CBS Shows Daniel Pearl Video

The decision by US broadcaster CBS to air sections of a videotape detailing the last hours of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl has angered Pearl's family, who have described the broadcaster as "heartless".

A 30-second excerpt of the three-minute video tape was shown on the channel last night as part of a story about its use as a propaganda tool, after calls from the justice department and the secretary of state, Colin Powell, not to show the video tape were rejected.

CBS's decision has sparked a furious row with the widow and family of the murdered journalist, who claim that the broadcaster is playing into the hands of Islamist terrorists.

The videotape, which was delivered to US officials in February, shows Daniel Pearl talking to camera and later having his throat cut while apparently unconscious or dead, and was used as the proof that the reporter, who had been kidnapped some weeks earlier, had been murdered.

The video tape contains Daniel Pearl's "confession" to his kidnappers that he is Jewish.

It was obtained by CBS from a dissident Saudi Arabian journalist, according to Jim Murphy, the executive producer of CBS Evening News, who said sections of the videotape have been distributed over the internet.

In an unusual move, CBS anchor Dan Rather gave an on-air explanation of the network's decision.

Rather told viewers the video tape was shown because CBS News believed it was important for Americans to see the impact of the propaganda war being waged against the US.

But Daniel Pearl's widow, Mariane, and his family condemned the network's decision.

While Rather "attempts to rationalise the network's heartless decision to air this despicable terrorist propaganda video, it is beyond our comprehension that any mother, wife, father or sister should have to relive this horrific tragedy and watch their loved one being repeatedly terrorised", said a statement from the Pearl family.

"Terrorists have made this video confident that the American media would broadcast it and thereby serve their exact purpose," it added, asking other US networks not to show the video tape.

Murphy said he felt uncomfortable showing the videotape, which he knew would "upset people", but felt that Americans should see it.

"When I saw the tape, I said to myself: 'These people are doing terrible and dangerous things that could affect me and my family'," he told the Miami Herald.

He said some government officials had heard, incorrectly, that CBS was planning to show the grisly portion of the video tape.

"The government called to tell us that what we were doing was helping to spread the terrorists' word and I don't think that's the case," Murphy said.

"The word is already being spread. I don't think it's wrong to inform the American people about it."

Four Islamist militants, including one British-born man, are currently on trial in Pakistan for Daniel Pearl's kidnap and murder.

Their defence lawyers today accused the chief prosecutor in the trial of blasphemy - a charge that the prosecution believe is designed to provoke reprisals from vigilantes.

Prosecutor Raja Quereshi last week asked the judge to throw out the charge of blasphemy, calling it an attempt at intimidation, and the judge is expected to rule on the request today.

Defence lawyer Rai Bashir accused Quereshi a week ago of making statements derogatory to Islam and to Islam's prophet Mohammed, but did not reveal his specific words.

Quereshi has called the allegation baseless.

Associated Press reported that the defendants appeared "unmoved" when the three-minute video tape of Daniel Pearl's "confession" and murder was shown in the court.