Reporters face violence as Iraq cracks down on media dissent

Iraqis are fearing a renewed crackdown on dissent as a crucial national poll draws near, with several journalists claiming to have been beaten by security forces and ministers issuing warnings about media coverage. Iraq's communications minister, Faruq Abd Al-Qadir, has introduced a $5,000 license fee for all broadcast media outlets and ordered the staff of the 58 media and television stations operating in the country to apply for work permits. Observers say the move appears to have been prompted by official anger at recent coverage of a string of devastating bomb attacks on government ministries, which caused about 250 deaths and seriously eroded the government's security credentials. The new rules come after a summer crackdown on internet access in which communications authorities warned service providers and internet cafes they would to block access to websites deemed to be offensive.