In a statement received by Agence France-Presse, the Dubai-based TV station said its attempts to obtain permission for a medical aircraft to evacuate its journalist from Baghdad had met with 'a refusal from the American military authorities'.

In 'intensive' contacts with 'the Iraqi government, the Pentagon, the State Department and American Central Command (Centcom) in Qatar' Al-Arabiya had explained 'the gravity of the state of health' of Kazem and 'the need to transfer him out of Iraq in the hope of saving his life,' the statement said.

One of his doctors in Baghdad told Al-Arabiya that Kazem, 37, had been wounded in the jaw, the windpipe and the spine 'which caused partial paralysis' of his legs.

Colleagues said armed men had tried to kidnap Kazem as he left a Baghdad restaurant.