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Egyptian government orders Al Jazeera shutdown

By the CNN Wire Staff
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Egypt shuts down Al-Jazeera bureau
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: The network's Arabic-language channel is off the air in Egypt
  • The network says the move is "aimed at censoring the voices of the Egyptian people"
  • State media says the government is withdrawing accreditation of Al Jazeera's staff

(CNN) -- Egyptian authorities have said they are shutting down Al Jazeera's Cairo bureau, the network said in a statement Sunday.

"Al Jazeera sees this as an act designed to stifle and repress the freedom of reporting by the network and its journalists," the network said. "In this time of deep turmoil and unrest in Egyptian society it is imperative that voices from all sides be heard; the closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people."

The network's Arabic-language channel was off the air in Egypt Sunday afternoon, but Al Jazeera English was still on the air.

Egypt's information ministry announced Sunday that it was revoking Al Jazeera's license and withdrawing accreditation of the network's staff, state media reported.

Why was Al-Jazeera singled out in Egypt?
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"Egypt's media department has decided to shut down the Al Jazeera channel," said an anchor on state-run Nile TV.

Al Jazeera said it planned to continue its coverage of the unrest in Egypt.