The Ministry of Information has confiscated the transmission devices of Aljazeera and Alarabiya Satellite Channels as Yemen accuses the two TV stations of fabricating stories about the situation in the south.

A source at the ministry on Friday said that the devices were unauthorized by the ministry and that they would be returned to where they came from.

Before the move, the directors of the offices of the two TVs in Sana'a were summoned and informed that this is a legal matter, according to the source.

Murad Hashim and Hamoud Munasar were also requested to cooperate with the authorities.

The ministry will reserve the two devices, the source said, denying that the move was arbitrary or aimed at cracking down the media as protests and violence continue to sweep the south.

Yemen welcomes the media and broadcasting sets but on condition they operate without violating the national law, igniting chaos or reporting falsehoods about any part of the country, the source concluded.

More recently, Yemen attacked Aljazeera over reporting on the south saying it reported photos from the archive saying they were new pictures, a move that was aimed at harming Yemen's unity and encouraging destructive elements disturbing the public security and attacking police and the people.

We urge the pan-Arab TV to stop campaigning against Yemen and not to abuse its job, an official at the ministry said.