Thursday 20 August 2009

BBC defies call for Afghan news blackout

The BBC is ignoring the call by the Afghanistan Government for the media to impose a blackout on news of any violent incidents during today's presidential elections.
It reported this morning that the Taliban had attacked a number of polling stations and that militants had been shot in Kabul.
The International Federation of Journalists yesterday described the call for a news blackout as "illogical and objectionable." The Pajhwok Afghan News agency said it would defy the call which was condemned by the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association.
Siamak Herawi, a spokesman for President Karzai, said the blackout would prevent the media from having a "negative impact" and stop people voting because of fears of violence.

No comments: