DAMASCUS - US-funded Arabic television station Alhurra said it has shelved a series of live discussion programmes on the situation in Syria due to the pressure applied on its team by Damascus.
The channel had broadcast on Monday a programme live from Damascus which openly discussed press laws and so-called "red lines" that journalists should not cross.
It was to be followed by three other debates focussed on political reform but Alhurra, whose name means "the free one" said Tuesday that these would not now take place.
"In view of the pressure put on the Alhurra team concerning the choice of people invited to take part in discussions and in view of the absence of cooperation, the channel has decided to cancel its scheduled programmes," it said.
However an official from the Syrian ministry of information said that "all the help was extended to the channel concerned" pointing to the fact that the first debate was broadcast.
The director of foreign press at the ministry, Nizar Mayhub, said the first programme "reflected the climate of openness and freedom in Syria and that intellectuals and journalists could express their opinions in all liberty".
The first programme brought together the new director of Syrian television Diana Jabbur, the human rights activist Anwar Bunni as well as two Syrian journalists.
Bunna condemned the pressure on Alhurra. "What happened confirms what I said during the programme about the lack of press freedom and the attempts by the authorities to control all media, including foreign media."
04/20/2005 11:46 GMT