February 06, 2003
Iraq expels Indonesian journalist
The Iraqi authorities have expelled an Indonesian journalist for visa violations, an Indonesian foreign ministry official said on Tuesday.
Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told The Jakarta Post that the journalist, Dahlan, who works for the Surabaya-based daily Surya, was briefly detained by Iraqi troops guarding the border with Jordan on Monday night before he was deported.
"He is now safe in the Indonesian embassy in Amman," Marty said.
Quoting Indonesian diplomats in Jordan, Marty said Dahlan had entered Iraqi territory without a visa or the necessary documents, including a special permit from President Saddam Hussein's office that is required for foreign journalists wishing to visit the Middle Eastern country, currently under threat of attack from the United States.
Posted at February 06, 2003 12:50 PM | Indonesia
