Campbell fails to stop broadcasts by bin Laden

Broadcasters refused yesterday to censor video statements by Osama bin Laden amid fears that he is sending secret messages to his terrorist network by video. After talks with Alastair Campbell, the Prime Minister's director of communications, the BBC, ITN and Sky said they would continue to exercise discretion over the content of their news programmes

Downing Street told television news executives from the three organisations there were fears that al-Qa'ida broadcasts could be used to pass on Taliban propaganda and coded orders to terrorists to attack new targets. The Government is also worried that Osama bin Laden could incite violence in British Muslim communities with a call to arms against the West.

But the broadcasters argue that the clips of Mr bin Laden they have broadcast were less than a minute long and that discretion and judgement was already being exercised by news editors.

The BBC, ITN and Sky News said in a joint statement: "As responsible broadcasters we are mindful of national and international security issues and the impact reports can have in different communities and cultures. But we will retain the right to exercise our own independent, impartial editorial judgement."

In the talks, which lasted 45 minutes and were described as "amicable and constructive" by the BBC, Mr Campbell warned broadcasters to treat the Taliban claims about civilian casualties with scepticism.

Richard Sambrook, director of BBC News, said the corporation would continue to use video footage of air strikes which hit civilian targets and would screen al-Qa'ida videos in context. But the broadcasters agreed to Downing Street requests not to report the travel plans of Tony Blair in advance, even if they are released in the country he is visiting.

The BBC was embroiled in a furious row with Downing Street last week after viewers were told that the Prime Minister was travelling to Oman, despite Whitehall requests to keep his destination secret.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "They accept that unless something is authorised by us it should not appear in advance."

Downing Street, which said the television stations had so far "behaved responsibly", agreed to set up a "communication channel" about coverage of the war with broadcasters.

The Government has promised to give them access to intelligence information if it shows that videos recorded by Mr Bin Laden do retain coded signals. The most recent video message from al-Qa'ida, broadcast on the al-Jazeera satellite television station, which is based in the Gulf state of Qatar, warned that high-rise buildings and aircraft in Britain could be targeted.

Time magazine reported that al-Qa'ida sources, now working for the American authorities, had warned that the use of the phrase "I swear to God" could be used to trigger further attacks.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There is a recognition that because this network is diffuse, scattered and highly elusive we have to be alive to the possibility that they can be used to send signals around the world to the network. The broadcasters accept that should they have any further information to help them make a judgement that would be welcome."

The Tories and the Liberal Democrats said the media should be sensitive in their coverage of the war. But they warned the Government not to try to censor the press.

Tim Yeo, the shadow Culture and Media Secretary, said: "At this time it is absolutely vital that both sides exercise caution. The Government must continue to make every effort to avoid to resorting to censorship and, for their part, broadcasters must avoid giving any aid or comfort to bin Laden or any other terrorist."

Nick Harvey, for the Liberal Democrats, said the media's job was to put broadcast an objective news, not government spin. "There's nothing wrong with the Government explaining a point of view to the broadcasters," he said. "But it's not the broadcasters' responsibility to put out the Government's message."