Syria warns of Western disinformation campaign

DAMASCUS - Syrian Information Ministry charged Sunday that Western intelligence parties in cooperation with Arab ones are planning to hack into Syrian TV frequencies in order to spread false news that would deceive the Syrians about the situation of the current ruling regime.

In a statement broadcast on all Syrian TVs Sunday, the ministry said that the foreign and Arab intelligence parties are planning to hack into the frequencies of the Syrian TVs for a little while via the broadcast control stations that exist in neighboring countries in order to disseminate false news such as broadcasting news about a military coup or high level defections and so on.

The ministry said that local or Arab anchors might be used to spread the falsifications.

The ministry have warned that a copycat of the state TV with the same station's logo has been broadcasting since a couple of days ago airing national songs. The state media warned the Syrian watchers of following these channels.

Syria has for so long warned of a media disinformation campaign.

The Arab League has officially asked the satellite operators of Arabsat and Nilesat to stop broadcasting Syrian media, either public or private TVs.

The Arab League had a precedent of media sanctioning. The 22- member league managed to censure Libyan TV in order to keep its leaders from communicating with the people before the NATO-backed rebels killed Muammar Gaddafi.

The warning comes as the Syrian army is dealing deadly blows to the armed rebels, who have managed to bring battles to the capital Damascus and northern Aleppo province.