Opposition Leader Claims Iraqi Intelligence Infiltrated Al-Jazeera
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
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DOHA, Qatar — Iraqi intelligence agents of Saddam Hussein's regime infiltrated the Arabic language news station Al-Jazeera television, the head of a major Iraqi opposition group claimed Tuesday.
"Al-Jazeera is completely infiltrated by Iraqi intelligence," Ahmad Chalabi, head of the Iraqi National Congress, said in an interview aired live by Abu Dhabi Television, an Al-Jazeera competitor.
"We got the information from the files of Iraqi intelligence," Chalabi added.
An employee for Al-Jazeera, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was unlikely that the station would respond to Chalabi's allegations, adding, "Of course what he says is not true."
Chalabi claimed the files also said Al-Jazeera wanted to buy a gift for someone who provided the station with two letters from terrorist mastermind Usama bin Laden.
The allegations were broadcast shortly after Al-Jazeera reported -- incorrectly -- that Chalabi had been arrested by U.S. troops for embezzlement. The U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar, said the report was untrue.
Abu Dhabi Television said it sought the interview with Chalabi to talk about reports of his arrest. The station issued a disclaimer, saying that his views about Al-Jazeera were his own and not those of Abu Dhabi Television.
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