Sunday, Apr 28, 2013
Dubai- In the latest sign of escalating tensions, Iraq suspended 10 satellite TV channels from working in the country accusing them on instigating sectarianism. “We took a decision to suspend the licence of some satellite channels that adopted language encouraging violence and sectarianism,” Mujahid Abu Al Hail, a top official in the Communications and Media Commission said. The suspensions include Al Jazeera, the main broadcaster in the Arab world, and Sharqiya, a leading channel in Iraq. Late Saturday, Prime Minister Noori Al Maliki said that sectarian strife “came back to Iraq, because it began in another place in this region,” in an apparent reference to Syria. The bloody unrest, which began on Tuesday with deadly clashes between security forces and Sunni Arab anti-government protesters in north Iraq, has raised fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict that plagued the country in the past and killed tens of thousands. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that broke out in Sunni areas of Shiite-majority Iraq more than four months ago. The Sunni protesters have called for Al Maliki’s resignation and railed against authorities for allegedly targeting their community with wrongful detentions and accusations of involvement in terrorism. Al Maliki called in a statement for anti-government protesters to “expel the criminals who targeted Iraqi army and police forces,” after five soldiers were killed near a protest site close to Ramadi, west of Baghdad. Meanwhile, Anti Al Qaida Sahwa chief Shaikh Wissam Al Hardan gave a 24-hour deadline for the protesters to turn in the accused gunmen. Sahwa militiamen fought pitched battles against Sunni militants from 2006, helping to turn the tide of the Iraq war.
By Layelle Saad GCC/Middle East Editor
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