Egypt moves closer to banning Al Jazeera affiliate

Egypt's official news agency says the interim government has deemed Al Jazeera's local affiliate a national threat, moving closer to banning its broadcasts.

The Mena news agency says three government ministers met on Thursday and issued a statement saying that Al Jazeera Mubashir Misr is operating "illegally" and using satellite transmitters without licence.

The agency says the ministers allege that the station is resented for spreading "rumours and claims which are harmful to Egyptian national security and threaten the country's unity."

Amid Egypt's current political turmoil after July 3 coup that toppled President Mohammed Morsi, the channel aired statements by fugitive Islamist leaders. The Qatar-based network also broadcast hours of protests by supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood live across its channels.

The channel remained on the air Thursday afternoon.