RapidTVNews reports that a Kuwaiti court has fined Al Jazeera $73,000 for “insulting the state". This occurred in 2002, when Al Jazeera transmitted a programme in which it was alleged that Kuwait was itself largely responsible for the 1990 Iraqi invasion of its country.

Following the programme the Al Jazeera local bureau was closed for some two and a half years, and not re-opened until May 2005. Al Jazeera was at the time fined an initial 5000 Kuwaiti Dinars ($18,300).

Subsequently a private action against Al Jazeera was started by four local lawyers who sought compensation of KD60,000 ($220,000).

Al Jazeera paid the KD5000 “fine” in order to re-open their local office, but now say they will be appealing against this latest ruling, which has in any case to be confirmed by a higher court.