Sunni cleric claims pro US media bias

Imam Muhammad Azami said in his Friday sermon that reporters disappointed the people of Iraq by their election coverage. He said, "Journalists and reporters misdirected the world and Iraqis in their coverage of the elections and did what they were asked by the United States. They encouraged people to vote despite the boycott of a large majority of Iraqis. They manufactured stories claiming a large number of people going to the polls in every city. Iraqis are disturbed by this collaboration of the media and United States. We, Iraqis, will not be good against the media as before and will not let them write biased stories."

The Sunni community in Abu Hanifa mosque confiscated the camera of the IHA cameraman shooting the sermon following the Friday prayers, only to return it hours later.

Meanwhile, an Italian female journalist and her Iraqi aide interviewing in front of the University of Baghdad were kidnapped by unknown people.

Journalists and reporters have been targets of the kidnappings by insurgents in recent months.