Saudi-led bloc blacks out Al-Jazeera from TV & Net

The Arabic news network Al-Jazeera, one of the most widely seen news channels in the world, has been thrust into the center of a storm as Qatar came under virtual siege by its Gulf neighbours, pressuring it to shut down the channel that has infuriated them with its coverage for 20 years. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar this week over allegations it supports terrorism and, more specifically, that it uses Al-Jazeera "as a mouthpiece to destabilize the region".

Al-Jazeera was the first Arab satellite news channel to offer a range of views outside of heavily censored state media. Acting Director General of the Al-Jazeera Media Network, Mostefa Souag, said that he believes Al-Jazeera is being targeted because "we tell the truth." "Certain people maybe don't like the truth," he said, or possibly too because of the network's "relationship with Qatar."

"Al-Jazeera is going to continue with its editorial policy. We're doing the job to the best that we can," he added.

The world became familiar with Al-Jazeera after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when its golden-hued Arabic logo became synonymous with video messages by America's then-Most Wanted Terrorist, Osama bin Laden. The channel aired the messages it received, sparking frequent complaints by then-President George W Bush's White House. The station defended its policy, saying the messages were newsworthy.

Over the years, Al-Jazeera's reporters have not been spared of the region's politics and violence. One of its reporters was killed by US fire in Iraq in 2003, though Qatar says it had supplied the military with its office's coordinates to avoid being targeted. Its bureau in Kabul was hit in 2001 by the US.