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Iraqi tv radio off air { April 8 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,932203,00.htmlhttp://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,932203,00.html
Iraqi TV and radio off air
Owen Gibson
Tuesday April 8, 2003
Domestic Iraqi television and radio broadcasts were stopped today for the first time.
Broadcasts were blacked out after US attacks targeted transmitters in the Iraqi capital in an effort to further demoralise Saddam Hussein's remaining troops.
Despite the encroaching coalition forces, Iraqi television and radio had until now continued to broadcast a steady stream of propaganda messages and news but today both were knocked off air for the first time.
This morning the station failed to broadcast a early news bulletin and instead showed only old footage of Saddam being cheered at rallies and played patriotic songs.
Zuhair Jezairy, an Iraqi writer who quit Baghdad in 1979, said the suspension of broadcasts was hugely significant.
"It is very important. He knows that the new generation have been brought iup on TV, that there heroes are from the TV. They are used to seeing him three of four times a day, they are brought up to see him every day several times, so maybe if they don't see him maybe they will start to believe he is gone," Mr Jezairy told Sky News.
The US military indicated it had targeted television transmitters in the Iraqi capital.
"Clearly we would like to destroy Saddam's capability to disseminate lies," said Major Michael Birmingham with the US 3rd Infantry Division.
Local state-run Baghdad Radio was still transmitting but airing only national music and songs in praise of Saddam.
"Saddam has confused his enemy, Saddam is ours and we will stay with him until we die, he is our Saddam and we will defend him unto death," were the lyrics of one song.
US officials said they bombed a building in Baghdad on Monday after intelligence reports that Saddam and his two sons may have been inside. It was not clear if they were hit.
In recent days the domestic state television channel has run a morning statement from the military detailing successes against US-led invasion forces, but there was no sign of it today, although times of the broadcast have varied.
Central Baghdad was a battleground on Tuesday, with US air raids pounding the area around the information ministry.
No officials from the ministry were available to explain why the television broadcasts had ceased.
Iraq's international satellite television channel has been off the air for a couple of days. US forces have targeted Iraqi broadcasting facilities, saying they were used by Saddam to maintain control over the country.
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