QATAR: The Al Jazeera satellite TV network plans to launch an English-language news channel by the end of next year to counteract what it says is unbalanced reporting from Western networks like CNN and the BBC.
"We believe there's a gap in the market," said Mr Nigel Parsons, the London-based managing editor of Al Jazeera International. "For all stories there are two sides to the argument, and we're not getting both sides."
The network's Arabic-language channel has been criticised by the US government for its coverage of the war in Iraq, and was forced to close its office in Baghdad last month by the Iraqi interim government.
Al Jazeera won over millions of Arab viewers before and during the US-led war against Afghanistan in 2001, and aired exclusive footage of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11th attacks. Initial plans are to base the new channel at Al Jazeera's headquarters in Qatar, with bureaux in Europe, North America and Asia.
