SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ALLEGATIONS OF QUKRAN

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000777 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER/ASILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PREL KMDR SOCI OIIP MU SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ALLEGATIONS OF QUKRAN DESECRATION -------------- Print and Broadcast Media -------------- ¶1. The three major Arabic-language dailies in Oman - the government-owned "Oman" and the privately-owned "Al Watan" and "al-Shabiba" - all carried reports of alleged Quran desecration by U.S. military interrogators at Guantanamo Bay. Front-page coverage of the allegations appeared in the Thursday May 12 and Saturday May 14 editions of the newspapers, while the story was relegated to the inner pages of Friday's editions. The reporting, originating from foreign news agencies such as AFP and Interfax, has been predominantly neutral and factual, focusing on the Afghan demonstrations and other reactions; most articles mention that the U.S. military is currently investigating the charges. To date, no editorials have appeared in any Omani newspapers regarding the alleged incident. ¶2. The Embassy is unaware of any Omani radio or television coverage of the allegations. -------------- Online Forums -------------- ¶3. Discussions of the alleged desecration also began appearing in the Internet message board "Al Sablah" over the local Thursday- Friday weekend. The Embassy will report in greater detail on these online discussions septel. -------------- Popular Reactions -------------- ¶4. Local Embassy staff and Omani contacts report that discussion of the alleged Quran desecration in Guantanamo has been a hot topic around dinner tables and in coffee houses since the story spread on May 12. A Foreign Ministry contact said he was unaware of any formal discussion of the matter within his ministry, but confirmed that his friends and associates outside the ministry were both angered and deeply offended by the reports. Noting that one negative story can undo many otherwise positive efforts on the part of the USG, he expressed hope that the U.S. military would take decisive action to prevent such abuses in the future. -------------- Embassy Response -------------- ¶5. Secretary Rice's May 12 statement regarding the allegations, as well as relevant excerpts from A/S Boucher's May 11 State Department Briefing, have been posted on the Embassy's website in both English and Arabic. We are also preparing a diplomatic note to the Foreign Ministry, explaining the situation and the actions the U.S. government is taking to address these allegations. BALTIMORE