WASHINGTON, 28 April 2004 — US Secretary of State Colin Powell complained bitterly yesterday about coverage of the Middle East, Iraq and the war on terrorism provided to Arab audiences by the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network, as the United States and Qatar launched a new “strategic dialogue” aimed at improving relations.

Powell, speaking to reporters at the State Department alongside Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad ibn Jassem Al-Thani, made no secret of the fact that relations between the two nations were being harmed by Al-Jazeera, which US officials have long accused of biased reporting.

“The friendship between our two nations is such that we can also talk about difficult issues that intrude into that relationship, such as the issue of the coverage of Al-Jazeera, and we had candid discussions about that,” Powell said.

Asked to elaborate on what Washington was asking Doha to do about Al-Jazeera, Powell replied: “We are having very intense discussions about this subject, and those discussions will continue over the next couple of days.” He refused to comment further on the matter.

Sheikh Hamad declined comment when asked what Qatar could do to respond to the US concerns, saying only: “Thank you very much,” before Powell escorted him to his car.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al-Thani is the main backer of Al-Jazeera and Qatari officials in the past have shrugged off US complaints, citing their desire to promote a free and vibrant press.

State Department officials were not immediately available to expand on Powell’s remarks, but pointed out Washington’s longstanding concerns that Al-Jazeera has and continues to air unedited audio- and videotapes attributed to Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and his deputies in which the United States and other nations are threatened with terrorist attacks.

“Normally, a news outlet would conduct an interview with someone, not just show tapes in their entirety that are dropped off mysteriously at some office somewhere,” one official said.

“Airing tapes of known terrorists calling for people to kill Americans is not responsible journalism. “We think that needs to stop,” the official said.

The officials also pointed to recent strong protests by commanders of the US-led coalition in Iraq about Al-Jazeera’s coverage of hostilities, which they say is fanning anti-US sentiment there.

On April 12, Gen. John Abizaid, the head of the US Central Command, slammed Al-Jazeera and other Arab television stations, notably Dubai-based Al-Arabiya, for suggesting that US troops are targeting civilians in Iraq. The stations have been providing graphic images of the devastation and casualties during the fighting in Fallujah.

In addition, they have aired videotape of foreign hostages taken captive by the insurgents.