Iranian authorities closed down Al Arabiya's Tehran bureau yesterday amid tensions in the violent aftermath of an election victory of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmedinijad against his closest reformist rival Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Officials gave no explanation for the decision to shut the office for a week, effectively preventing broadcasting from the country amid riots and protests by reformists over what they allege was a fraudulent election and rival protests planned by supporters of Ahmedinijad.
Diaa Al Nasseri, Al Arabiya's correspondent in Tehran, announced Iran's decision live on-air and said he was asked by the Ministry of Information to change a report and then notified that the offices would be closed for a week.
He added that the decision came after hours of negotiations between ministry officials and Al Arabiya, but that the ministry, which is charged with handling media accreditation, refused to provide justification for suspending the bureau's activities.
"Al Arabiya is worried about being banned from the chance to cover Iran during an important event like the elections and afterwards without explaining the reason behind that decision," said Nabil Khatib, Executive News Manager of Dubai-based Al Arabiya.
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