DOHA, 4 June 2003 — News anchor Adnan Al-Shareef was named acting director general of Al-Jazeera television yesterday after his predecessor’s removal amid reports Saddam Hussein’s spy services had infiltrated the Qatari channel.
Shareef, a Palestinian, was appointed to the post by board chairman Sheikh Hamad ibn Thamer Al-Thani, a member of Qatar’s ruling family.
He succeeds Mohammed Jassem Al-Ali, who had held the top job since the controversial Arabic-language satellite station was launched by Qatar in 1996.
