Mideast Wire On February 16, the conservative daily Keyhan carried the following commentary: “These days, the throbbing veins and the torn collars of the so-called Reformists can be observed in the 2 Khordad media and some of them are selectively exaggerating a few of Imam Khomeyni's standpoints- those which can …

Mideast Wire On February 18, the Palestinian-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Chief Editor Abdel-Beri Atwan: “Now, after the dust has cleared out and after the funerary processions of martyrs Rafik al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, and Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, the leader of Hezbollah’s military …

Mideast Wire   On February 14, the reformist daily E’temad carried the following commentary by Rasul Nafisi: “The relationship between the two countries of Iran and America is more than one and a half centuries old. Nevertheless, it is only from the military coup of 19 August against Dr Mosadeq …

BBC Monitoring Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 15 February New York, February 15, 2008 - The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the adoption of a charter by the council of Arab information ministers intended to regulate and control satellite TV stations. …

BBC Monitoring Excerpt from report by Iranian Tabnak news website on 17 February Tehran, 17 February: Radio Ma'aref [Islamic knowledge] has launched its English service on the ninth anniversary of the start of its work which coincided the birth anniversary of Imam Musa [the seventh Shi'i Imam] on Sunday 28 …

BBC Monitoring By Mohamed Shokry of BBC Monitoring on 14 February At a meeting in Cairo on 12 February 2008, information ministers of 21 Arab countries adopted a charter that sets out new regulations for satellite TV output in the Arab world. Only Qatar voiced reservations about the charter, on …

BBC Monitoring Text of report by Saudi-owned leading pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat website on 7 February [Report from London by Al-Sharq al-Awsat correspondent Faysal Abbas: "The BBC Arabic Television Channel will be Launched on the 11th of March. It will begin with a 12-Hour Transmission a Day."] Al-Sharq al-Awsat learned …

BBC Monitoring ["Midday Guest" programme interviews Egyptian writer Fahmi Huwaydi on Egyptian-Palestinian ties, Gaza incidents, press freedom - live] Al-Jazeera Satellite Television at 1325 gmt on 9 February carries live in its "Midday Guest" programme an interview with Fahmi Huwaydi, Egyptian writer and Islamic thinker, via satellite from Cairo. The …

BBC Monitoring Text of press release by Qatar-based satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera on 15 February Doha, Qatar, 15 February 2008: Al-Jazeera considers the adoption of the charter "Principles for Regulating Satellite TV in the Arab World" issued by the Arab League's ministers of information a risk to the freedom of …

BBC Monitoring Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 13 Feb: Following repetition of publication of insults against Holy Prophet (PBUH) Danish Ambassador to Tehran was summoned to IRI foreign Ministry on Wednesday evening. According to Foreign Ministry Media Department, Soren Husland was …