Baghdad, Asharq al-Awsat — A new news agency called the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) began transmission yesterday in Baghdad.

A source at the agency stressed that it is an independent news agency &#34and has no link with the government and is not an extension of the government”s Iraqi News Agency (INA)&#34, which was established in 1959 and collapsed after the downfall of Saddam Hussein in April 2003.

The source added that the agency &#34will not be a tool for inciting violence and will avoid everything that creates hatred between the sons of the people and definitely does not represent any tendency, party, ideology, or political message. As it does not have any links with any official or unofficial party, it will be self-financing to ensure its independence and it does not rely on any foreign financing sources.&#34