Al Jazeera rejects leaked US claims

Al Jazeera says the leaked US cables about the network are very far from the truth. Last Modified: 06 Dec 2010 03:33 GMT

WikiLeaks cables claim Al Jazeera changed coverage to suit foreign policy of the state of Qatar Al Jazeera Network has dismissed the alleged claims made in the leaked US cables that the state of Qatar is using the news network as a bargaining chip in foreign policy negotiations by adapting its coverage to suit other foreign leaders and offering to cease critical transmissions in exchange for major concessions. Al Jazeera said the claims, which were published by the Guardian newspaper, on Sunday were far from the truth. "This is the US embassy's assessment, and it is very far from the truth. Despite all the pressure Al Jazeera has been subjected to by regional and international governments, it has never changed its bold editorial policies which remain guided by the principles of a free press." said Al Jazeera in response on Sunday. The latest classified US documents released by WikiLeaks include a US diplomatic cable written in November, 2009, saying the channel could be used, "as a bargaining tool to repair relationships with other countries, particularly those soured by Al Jazeera's broadcasts, including the United States." In another cable Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar's prime minister, known in the document as HBJ, reportedly told a US senator he had challenged Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, to conclude a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel in return for stopping broadcasts. According to the leaked cable: "HBJ told Mubarak 'we would stop Al Jazeera for a year' if he agreed in that span of time to deliver a lasting settlement for the Palestinians." the Guardian said.