Reuters: Iraq parliament bars media as tension mounts

[Eugene]

Iraq parliament bars media as tension mounts
27 Nov 2006 14:05:35 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Alastair Macdonald

BAGHDAD, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament will bar the media from future
sessions and began on Monday by refusing access to reporters and then cutting
off television coverage as a debate on mounting sectarian violence became
heated.

Spokesmen for the government and parliament said it was part of efforts, newly
agreed by Iraq's National Security Council, to stop political leaders contradicting
each other in public and prevent media coverage that was deemed to inflame
conflicts.

"If there is any tension in the state, then the media should be kept out because
it may increase tension," speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani told lawmakers in a
televised session after dozens of journalists were barred from the building by
security guards.

-snip-

An official in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's media office said: "This is one of the
decisions of the National Security Council to make sure people speak with one
voice to the media."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAC738897.htm

[Drum]

1. Democracy on the march! nt

[trof]

2. Well, that ain't a good sign.

<sigh>