Iraq's Interior Ministry shut down two Sunni Arab local television stations for inciting violence after Iraqi High Tribunal sentenced the former leader Saddam Hussein to death Sunday.

The two channels are Baghdad-based al-Zawraa Channel which belongs to a prominent Sunni Arab politician Mesha'an al-Juboury and Tikrit-based Salahudin Channel owned by Abdul Rahman al-Dahash, a Sunni Arab businessman.

A spokesman from the Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua that the interior minister "ordered the closure of the two channels because they aired programs inciting people on violence."

"A force from Iraqi police stormed the office of Salahudin Channel in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, and detained two employees of the channel," a worker in the channel told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The Iraqi government has previously accused several TV channels of fueling sectarian conflict in the war-torn country.

Saddam and two of his senior aids were sentenced to death by hanging after the Iraqi High Tribunal found them guilty of crimes against humanity over the execution of 148 Shiite villagers of Dujail in crackdown on the town after a failed assassination attempt against Saddam in 1982.

Source: Xinhua