The Iraqi authorities have revoked the operating licences of the broadcaster al-Jazeera and nine other satellite TV channels, alleging that they are promoting a sectarian agenda.
The other nine banned channels include Dubai-based al-Sharqiya and al-Sharqiya News, and seven smaller local channels – Salahuddin, Fallujah, Taghyeer, Baghdad, Babiliya, Anwar 2 and al-Gharbiya.
The government said in a statement that the banned channels were responsible for creating a sectarian backdrop that is fuelling violence in the troubled country.
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