Iraqi officials differ on reasons for banning ^media cameras immediately after attacks

[maddezmom]

Source: CNN

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- The Iraqi government's ban on journalists covering the aftermath of bombings will only keep cameras away from the attack scene for the first two hours "until criminal investigators are done with their work," according to an Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman.

News photographers will still be able to capture video from a distance as long as they do not disturb the crime scene or shoot video of the wounded or dead, Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf told CNN Thursday.

~snip~

Khalaf's reasoning for the ban, however, differed from that of Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh.

Dabbagh told CNN earlier this week that the ban was an effort by Iraq's government to control certain news outlets that are trying to ignite sectarian tensions by showing "the blood of the people." (Posted 11:55 a.m.)



Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/17/thursday/index.html