U.S. expels Iraqi journalist

By The Associated Press

02.17.03

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UNITED NATIONS — The U.S. government expelled an Iraqi journalist who covers the United Nations for the official Iraqi News Agency, calling him "harmful" to the security of the United States, the journalist and U.S. officials said on Feb. 14.

The announcement came as Iraq informed Fox News that its four news staffers in Baghdad would have to leave the country.

John Stack, vice president for news gathering at Fox News, said his network was not told why its staff would have to leave but that they believed Iraq was retaliating for the expulsion from the United States of Mohammed Allawi, a reporter for the Iraqi News Agency.

"We have reason to believe that it's a tit-for-tat situation," Stack said. Fox News said it had appealed the expulsion and was seeking a meeting with Iraqi officials in Baghdad.

Allawi, who has reported from the United Nations for the past two years, said he received the expulsion letter signed by Deputy U.S. Ambassador Patrick Kennedy at his Manhattan home on Feb. 13.

The letter said he and his family, including his five children, had 15 days to leave the United States.

"The letter says I have to leave because I am harmful to U.S. interests," Allawi said.

A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Allawi "has engaged in activities considered to be harmful to the security of the United States and those activities constitute an abuse of privilege of residence in this country."

Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Douri said he was stunned by the decision.

"He's a very polite and decent man. He's always in his office or with his colleagues, so I don't see how he could be a threat," Douri said.

Douri said he was not sure what recourse would be available but that he was studying the matter. The ambassador also complained about U.S. harassment of Iraqi diplomats. He and others at the Iraqi mission have complained that the United States tries to coerce diplomats into defecting.

The Fox News staff in Baghdad includes Greg Palkot, a correspondent, and three other staff members. If the expulsion is final, Stack said, the news crew will cover Iraq from neighboring countries.

"We will do our best from the perimeter and depend on the various news agencies we subscribe to," he said. "It's a difficult place for a journalist to try to conduct business, and this is just another chapter."