Al-Jazeera 'regrets' Rumsfeld charges of promoting terrorism

DUBAI (AFP) — Al-Jazeera television expressed regret over charges by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that its coverage of terrorist attacks was a key tool in Muslim extremists' propaganda war.

Al-Jazeera said it learned "with deep regret and surprise" of Rumsfeld's accusations that, according the Doha-based channel's statement, it was "promoting what is being called terrorism and transmitting tapes of beheading of hostages kidnapped in Iraq."

The statement claimed that Al-Jazeera follows professional principles in coverage, "which guarantee balance and impartiality".

Al-Jazeera has has "never transmitted pictures of killings or beheadings, and that any talk about this is absolutely unfounded," it added.

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