Satellite broadcasts of news and political programs banned

The Council of Ministers on Wednesday banned news and all political programs on satellite broadcasts. The move comes after months of wrangling between authorities and heads of local media stations over interviews with controversial figures in Lebanon and abroad.

Information Minister Bassem Sabaa, who announced Cabinet's decision to reporters, said the move gained the support of President Elias Hrawi, who agreed that certain practices by some media outlets were tarnishing Lebanon's image abroad.

He added the decision would have no impact on terrestrial broadcasts.

"There is complete separation between the two," Sabaa said. He added that television stations were free to carry interviews with "whomever they please," provided they are not broadcast on satellite.

The dispute started when competition between local television stations led to the hosting of more and more controversial figures, which has angered the government.

A live interview with exiled ex-army commander General Michel Aoun last month was banned.

Both Christian-owned LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International) and Future television, owned by Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, have licenses for satellite broadcasting.

An eleven-man ministerial committee, headed by Interior Minister Michel Murr, was formed to study the media situation and is to report its findings to the government within two months, Sabaa said.

In December 1996, the government announced it had a right to prior censorship of news and political programs. However, the Shura Council, the country's highest arbitrator on legal matters, pronounced the censorship unconstitutional, a ruling ignored by the government.