Army bans ITN from embedding its reporters

BRITAIN’S defence chiefs have banned a broadcaster from “embedding” its reporters with troops in combat zones in a row over its coverage of the medical treatment of troops.

Ministry of Defence sources confirmed that they had suspended cooperation with ITN until it offered a “satisfactory” explanation.

The MoD has written to the news organisation warning that it could take the issue to an industry watchdog, or that there might be legal action over “invasion of privacy” of one wounded soldier.

In the letter, a senior official says: “You should be under no illusions about the level of anger that exists as a result of items you carried on your programmes.

“To be clear: we are not seeking to stop you reporting on Iraq or Afghanistan, speaking to our spokespeople here or in theatre(s) or reporting the news.

“However, until we have satisfactory answers... the MoD feels unable to guarantee that our people will be treated fairly, honestly and their privacy respected.

“Can you give me that reassurance?”

The MoD was responding to reports by ITN for ITV News about the medical treatment of wounded personnel flown back to an NHS hospital in Britain.

ITV News editor-in-chief David Mannion said: “We are in correspondence with the Ministry of Defence seeking clarification as to any restrictions on our travel on official trips.”

Meanwhile a poll found than 60% of voters want British troops out of Iraq by the end of the year whatever state Iraq is in.

The British government has refused to set any timetable, with Prime Minister Tony Blair insisting they will stay until the “job is done”.

But the ICM poll in the Guardian found that only 30% of the public backed keeping forces in place for as long as necessary.

And a second poll in The Independent stated that almost two thirds of voters wanted troops withdrawn from Iraq “as soon as possible”.

Former US secretary of state James Baker’s independent commission on Iraq recommend partition as one possible option.

Critics however warn that such a solution could destabilise the region, while unleashing a cycle of bloody ethnic cleansing inside Iraq.