CNN under fire over 'terrorist snuff film'

The chairman of the House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee and two Republican colleagues have asked the Pentagon to remove embedded CNN reporters in Iraq after the network broadcast a video showing snipers targeting American soldiers.

The politicians said showing the footage was tantamount to airing an enemy propaganda film and was described by one as a “terrorist snuff film”.

The tape, which came to the network through contact with an militant leader, was aired on Wednesday night on the programme Anderson Cooper 360 and repeated on Thursday.

In a letter to defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Duncan Hunter, the committee chairman, wrote: “CNN has now served as the publicist for an enemy propaganda film featuring the killing of an American soldier.”

The letter was also signed by San Diego-area Republican congressmen Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray.

“This is nothing short of a terrorist snuff film,” Bilbray said at a press conference held in San Diego.

CNN producer David Doss wrote in a weblog on Thursday that the network televised the footage in an effort to present the “unvarnished truth” about the Iraq war.

In one instance, the tape shows a uniformed member of the US military milling in a public area with Iraqis. A shot rings out. CNN fades the screen to black before the result – described as a victim falling forward – is visible.

Hunter said he has not received a response from Rumsfeld.

A Pentagon spokesman said yesterday he did not know whether Rumsfeld had seen the letter.

“The department takes this very seriously and will look into the matter and respond accordingly to the member in due course,” said Lt Cmdr Chito Peppler.

CNN officials defended their decision to air the footage.

“Our responsibility is to report the news,” said spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg. “As an organisation we stand by our decision and respect the rights of others to disagree with it.”