CNN fires Middle East editor for Fadlallah tweet

CNN fired its senior editor of Middle East following her remarks in twitter in which she said that she respected Fadlallah, spiritual leader of Hezbollah.

America-Canada
08 Temmuz 2010 Perşembe 11:05

CNN fires Middle East editor for Fadlallah tweet

CNN fired its senior editor of Middle East following her remarks in twitter in which she said that she respected Fadlallah, spiritual leader of Hezbollah, according to report.

Octavia Nasr, who joined CNN in 1990, has apologised following debates that seemed another example of prejudice against Israel's foes.

She said in a "tweet" over the weekend that she was "sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah... One of Hezbollah's giants I respect a lot."
In her apology text she said that she praised Fadlallah for being a pioneer on "woman's rights," and warning Muslim men against abusing their wives.

But it was not enough and CNN fired her.

Last month, a legendary journalist Helen Thomas had also to quit after she was captured on video saying Israelis should get the hell out of Palestine and suggesting they go home to Germany, Poland or the United States.

Nasr has covered virtually every major Middle Eastern story for CNN during the past 20 years and anchored CNN World Report and CNN International's World News from 1993 to 2003.

Before joining CNN, she worked for the Lebanese Brodcasting Corporation.

Nasr's departure from CNN comes exactly a month after veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas retired after coming under fire for controversial remarks about Israel.