Nilesat operator cuts Syrian TVs broadcast

The Nilesat satellite operator stopped on Wednesday the broadcasting of Syria's state-TV, as well as pro-government al-Ekhbaria and Addounia TVs. The Arab League (AL) has officially asked the satellite operators of Arabsat and Nilesat to stop broadcasting of Syrian media, either public or private, such as Syria TV, al-Ekhbaria and Addounai. The decision has been seen by the Syrian government as an attempt to mute the sound of the Syrians. The Syrian government has also said that the decision runs counter to the media laws in the entire world. The "partiality" of the AL decision was marked when the decision only included the state and pro-government media, but didn't include scores of the opposition TVs that keep disseminating news and reports overwhelmed with "hatred and sectarian" speeches. The state and pro-government media establishments have been attacked more than once lately. Seven people had been slaughtered when armed groups blasted the Ekhbaria TV headquarters near Damascus a couple of months ago. In August, four staffers of the same TV were kidnapped by armed insurgents and later freed by government troops, one of whom had been killed allegedly by rebels. Also, the state-TV headquarters in Damascus has suffered from an explosion last month that ripped through its third floor and left injuries and material losses. Earlier in the day, the state-TV said that Syrian troops clashed Wednesday with armed groups that have tried to attack the broadcast center near the coastal Latakia, adding that heavy losses had been inflicted upon the assailants. The armed insurgents have also tried to take over the state media headquarters in northern Aleppo province, but Syrian government troops reportedly repelled the attack. Meanwhile, the state and pro-government media has provided alternative frequencies to keep its audience tuned.