Syria revokes BBC's accreditation, accuses it of spreading fake news

Syrias Information Ministry has cancelled the BBCs media accreditation accusing the British public broadcaster of biased and fake news in its coverage of the wartorn countryThe announcement came days after BBC Arabic released an investigative documentary about the illicit drug trade in Syria where they highlighted links between the estimated multibillion dollar industry and the Syrian army as well as members of President Bashar Assads familyThe Syrian Information Ministry in a statement late Saturday said the decision was made after warning the channel more than once that it has broadcasted its misleading reports relying on statements and testimonies from terrorist entities and those hostile to SyriaDamascus revoked the licenses of both the British broadcasters radio and television correspondents in Syria as well as their videographerWe speak to people across the political spectrum to establish the facts the BBC said in a statement emailed to the Associated Press adding that the broadcaster provides impartial independent journalismWe will continue to provide impartial news and information to our audiences across the Arabicspeaking worldAlso readBlinken pledges 150M aid for Syrians Iraqis at meeting on fighting ISILThe illicit drug industry most notably the addictive Captagon amphetamine pills has blossomed in wartorn Syria in recent yearsWhile experts say it has been a way to generate revenue for the countrys crippled economy and sanctioned leadership it has scourged neighboring Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as other Gulf countriesCaptagon has been used both recreationally and by people with physically demanding jobs to keep them alert as well as fighters on the battlefieldThe United Kingdom United States and European Union have sanctioned a handful of drug kingpins and close associates of Assad for their involvement in the tradeThe Syrian government denies any involvement in the production of Captagon A Syrian parliamentarian told the AP last month that Syria has been used as a transit state for Captagon and other drugs and accused opposition groups of running the industryAfter Syria restored relations with many of its neighbouring countries and returned to the Arab fold cracking down on drug smuggling has been a key issue in regional talksSyrias uprising which turned into a fullblown civil war now in its 13th year has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of its prewar population of 23 millionSyrians in both governmentheld territory and an oppositionheld enclave in the countrys northwest suffer from rampant poverty and crippled infrastructureThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever