TV
It has emerged that Downing Street will be engaging in talks with UK news organisations over the way they handle tapes involving Osama bin Laden.
In parallel to moves previously made by the US government, Downing Street is expected to say that they are concerned that the tapes, passed to Arabic-language channel Al Jazeera, contain coded messages.
A government spokeswoman told CNN:
"We do feel it is important at this time to discuss with the broadcasters some of the issues that arise when you have a conflict where the media access is controlled by an organisation that is harbouring terrorists, and which has been pumping out lies and propaganda from the start.
"We look forward to having a constructive dialogue on this."
Although specific details about which news organisations have not been revealed, it is understood that both the BBC and ITN will attend.
A BBC spokeswoman told the Press Association:
"We have been invited to a meeting at Downing Street to discuss the use of images of bin Laden and al Qaeda associates. We will be attending. We will listen to what they have to say."
ITN has confirmed that it has received a letter from Downing Street and, according to CNN, is "considering its response".
CNN itself has issued a statement regarding its policy towards bin Laden footage following a request from the US government not to air entire tapes from bin Laden. The network will no longer air al Qaeda statements live, and will "review them before deciding how to handle them." The statement read:
"CNN's policy is to avoid airing any material that we believe would directly facilitate any terrorist acts.
"In deciding what to air, CNN will consider guidance from appropriate authorities."
In parallel to moves previously made by the US government, Downing Street is expected to say that they are concerned that the tapes, passed to Arabic-language channel Al Jazeera, contain coded messages.
A government spokeswoman told CNN:
"We do feel it is important at this time to discuss with the broadcasters some of the issues that arise when you have a conflict where the media access is controlled by an organisation that is harbouring terrorists, and which has been pumping out lies and propaganda from the start.
"We look forward to having a constructive dialogue on this."
Although specific details about which news organisations have not been revealed, it is understood that both the BBC and ITN will attend.
A BBC spokeswoman told the Press Association:
"We have been invited to a meeting at Downing Street to discuss the use of images of bin Laden and al Qaeda associates. We will be attending. We will listen to what they have to say."
ITN has confirmed that it has received a letter from Downing Street and, according to CNN, is "considering its response".
CNN itself has issued a statement regarding its policy towards bin Laden footage following a request from the US government not to air entire tapes from bin Laden. The network will no longer air al Qaeda statements live, and will "review them before deciding how to handle them." The statement read:
"CNN's policy is to avoid airing any material that we believe would directly facilitate any terrorist acts.
"In deciding what to air, CNN will consider guidance from appropriate authorities."
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