2011-01-30 Al Jazeera no longer welcome in Egypt

Egyptian authorities have revoked Al Jazeera Network's licence to broadcast from Egypt.

The information minister [Anas al-Fikki] ordered ... suspension of operations of Al Jazeera, canceling of its licences and withdrawing accreditation to all its staff as of today," a statement on the official Mena news agency said on Sunday.

An Al Jazeera spokesman said that the company would continue its strong coverage regardless.

Prior to learning of the license revocation, Al Jazeera English correspondent Dan Nolan announced that there had been a series of threats from an unspecified source; eventually, the office received a visit from "plain clothes government security" officials ordering Al Jazeera out.

Gov’t agents say they’ve been watching our coverage but also listening to our phone calls.

Al Jazeera regards this latest act of censorship

as an act designed to stifle and repress the freedom of reporting by the network and its journalists ... In this time of deep turmoil and unrest in Egyptian society it is imperative that voices from all sides be heard; the closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people.

The live coverage currently being shown on the Al Jazeera Live feed is taken from Egyptian state television.

Bloggers have been asked to upload protest images here to call these numbers for information: +97444896192 & +97444896190.