Egypt shuts 12 private TV channels & warns 20 others
Ahead of crucial parliamentary polls
Egypt has shut down more private television channels in the latest crackdown on media ahead of next month's crucial parliamentary elections.
Tensions are rising as the balloting nears and although the election date hasn't been set, voting is expected in late November.
Egypt's main satellite operator said Tuesday it shut down 12 private television channels on grounds of violating broadcasting licenses.
Information Minister Anas al-Fiqi described the ban by NileSat as "corrective measures" to protect the Egyptian and Arab viewers from the offending channels.