Paper closes Iraq office after threat

Published December 17, 2004

DUBAI, Dec 16: London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said it would temporarily shut its office in the Iraqi capital Baghdad as of Thursday after receiving threats.

The pan-Arab daily said armed men calling themselves the mujahideen threatened on Monday to blow up the office if the newspaper did not publish a story within one week about a militant who had allegedly led battles in Fallujah.

"Asharq al-Awsat does not respond to threats or publish news under threat of arms ... The decision to close the office was taken to protect the safety of our journalists," it said in its latest edition. -Reuters

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...