NEW YORK (CBS 2/AP) —YouTube has removed from its site videos featuring calls to holy war by an al-Qaida-linked Muslim cleric after pressure from British and U.S. officials.
YouTube spokeswoman Victoria Grand said the videos by Anwar al-Awlaki violated the site’s guidelines prohibiting “incitement to commit violent acts.”
YouTube reportedly made the move after a British official urged the videos be removed.
Democratic New York Rep. Anthony Weiner also sent letters to the Google-owned company listing hundreds of videos featuring the U.S.-born Yemeni cleric. Weiner says the company took his request more seriously after last week’s attempted mail bombings from Yemen.
YouTube says it doesn’t comment on specific videos on its site.
The fugitive cleric has inspired a string of attempted attacks against the West.
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