A new Arab 'charter' to co-ordinate media control is an attempt by autocratic governments to squash already limited freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said.

Arab governments, led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, last week adopted a satellite broadcasting charter, which will entrench state control over broadcasts and curtail political expression on the airwaves across the region of some 300 million people.

The charter, signed by information ministers in Cairo, bans broadcasting material seen as undermining 'social peace, national unity, public order and general propriety', criticising
religions or defaming political, national and religious leaders.

If a broadcaster violates the charter, the host government can suspend or revoke its broadcasting licence. There has been a proliferation of private satellite channels in recent years, with the total number of outlets estimated at around 300.

'This is an unacceptable move on the part of autocratic governments to rob viewers of the already small amount of broadcast freedom they have enjoyed on private television,' CPJ executive Director Joel Simon said in a statement.

'Arab governments should immediately disavow this document and hold their countries to international standards for freedom of expression,' the New-York based group said.

Analysts say the charter is the Arab governments' response to the relative freedom enjoyed by Arab satellite broadcasters, many of which are privately financed and which encourage open political discussion of sensitive matters.

Qatar-based satellite channel Al Jazeera, seen as the most popular network in the Arab world, also attacked the charter, saying it would hinder independent reporting.

'Al Jazeera considers the adoption of the charter a risk to freedom of expression in the Arab world,' said a statement.-Reuters