Washington: The US on Tuesday (Aug 10, 2004) supported the Iraqi Government's decision to ban Al-Jazeera television for a month, saying Baghdad has weighed its appreciation for an independent and free media in banning the Qatar-based channel.

"The United States in Iraq, as elsewhere, supports a free and open media. We should also note that the insurgents and others have made it a habit of using the media to advance their agenda," State Department Deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said in Washington on Monday.

"And it's a difficult situation in Iraq. The Iraqi Government, I think, has weighed its appreciation and understanding and value for an independent and free media in taking this step," he said reacting to the Iraqi Government's decision to ban the news channel for 30 days.

He said a balance has to be struck between freedom of the press and the need to counter insurgency.

"We are all trying to work to get the balance right, to get the balance between respecting a free and independent media and acting against insurgents and providing for security," he said.

Ereli said in the case of Al-Jazeera the standard of voicing the dissent with responsibility and without endangering the lives of innocent people was not met.

He also claimed that according to evidence there was freedom of opinion and expression in Iraq.