<

Afghanistan Network Cuts Ties with CNN
Friday, February 1, 2002
(5:23 PM PT)
Zap2it.com

LOS ANGELES
Afghani network Al-Jazeera has severed its association with CNN. The decision was prompted by American cable network's decision to air a tape in which Osama bin Laden is captured saying killing innocent civilians is "permissible in Islamic law," according to media reports.

The tape was taken from an interview with the Taliban leader, who is suspected for being the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. Al-Jazeera has repeatedly denied having a copy of the interview, which was conducted last October. Yet, using outside sources, CNN obtained a copy of the tape.

CNN says that Al-Jazeera accused the network of obtaining the video illegally.

"Al-Jazeera will sever its relationship with CNN and will take action to punish the organizations and individuals who stole this video and distributed it illegally," says Al-Jazeera director general Mohammed Jassim Al-Ali.

Meanwhile, CNN is standing by its decision to air the tape.

"There was nothing that was going to stop CNN from airing this videotape," CNN's new head Eason Jordan said during an interview Thursday (Jan. 31) on "CNN International," "because it's newsworthy and we believe we are entitled to it under our affiliate agreement."

Since Sept. 11 and the ensuing war on terrorism, CNN signed a deal with Al-Jazeera, the only news service broadcasting within Afghanistan, to share material.

Existence of the October interview was apparently known in government and intelligence circles, according to CNN. The network says the U.S. government had a copy and British Prime Minister Tony Blair quoted the interview in a speech to Parliament last November.
(Zap2it.comNews Source)
2002 © Zap2it.com.

Some industries continually claw their way to the bottom. Perhaps Al-Jazeera was having a hard time accepting approx. four months of global exposure...?

Dan