LONDON Britain's television watchdog on Friday revoked the broadcasting licence of Kurdish satellite channel MED TV, which Turkey argues is a mouthpiece for armed separatist rebels. The Independent Television Commission (ITC) said it revoked the licence because broadcasts contained statements likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to disorder. It will take effect in 28 days. In Turkey, caretaker Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit welcomed the decision and attributed it to a forceful Turkish campaign to get the channel closed.

This shows that the Turkish Republic can achieve all its goals when it acts with determination on its just causes, Ecevit told reporters in Ankara. The ITC said it had based its decision to revoke the licence on four broadcasts which had broken British laws outlined in the 1996 broadcasting acts. The ITC's action followed complaints by Turkey that armed guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had used the station to issue calls for attacks against Turkey. The commission decided that it was necessary in the public interest to revoke this licence, the ITC said in a statement.

It is not in the public interest to have any broadcaster use the United Kingdom as a platform which incite people to violence. A wave of violence swept Turkey in the wake of its capture of Kurdish guerrilla leader Abdullah Ocalan, who had frequently contributed to debate shows on the channel. (Reuter)