The Iraqi government has indefinitely extended its temporary order shutting down the Baghdad offices of Arabic satellite channel, al-Jazeera.
In a statement Saturday, the government said during the initial 30-day period of its closure, it had expected al-Jazeera to formally explain what it called the channel's "motives behind its policy toward Iraq."
The government said it would continue its ban, which went into effect in early August, until the channel officially responds.
Despite the closure, al-Jazeera has continued to cover the news in Iraq. Al-Jazeera executives have not commented on today's announcement.