ABU DHABI ø A-Jazeera is getting religion, journalistically speaking.

The controversial leading satellite television channel in the Middle East, has announced a code of ethics to ensure balanced reporting.

The United States has accused the Doha-based television of promoting the insurgency against the coalition in Iraq with inflammatory anti-U.S. propaganada and even coded messages to terrorists.

A-Jazeera released the code of ethics during the closing session of a media conference in Qatar on July 12, Middle East Newsline reported.

The code contained several commitments by the Qatari-owned channel including a guarantee of what the document termed "balanced and sensitive reporting."

"Adhere to the journalistic values of honesty, courage, fairness, balance, independence, credibility and diversity, giving no priority to commercial or political considerations," the code of ethics said. "Endeavor to get to the truth and declare it unequivocally in a manner which leaves no doubt about its validity and accuracy."

The code of ethics also pledged to treat A-Jazeera's audience with respect and "address every issue or story with due attention to present a clear, factual and accurate picture." The channel also pledged to portray non-Muslim societies in an unbiased way.

"Acknowledge a mistake when it occurs, promptly correct it and ensure it does not recur," the code said. "Observe transparency in dealing with the news and its sources. Distinguish between news material, opinion, and analysis."

U.S. officials said A-Jazeera was used by Al Qaida to broadcast propaganda as well as encoded messages to operatives. A leading cleric and member of A-Jazeera, Sheik Yusef Qaradawi, has promoted Al Qaida in his weekly television program.

A senior A-Jazeera correspondent, Tayseer Alouni, has been awaiting trial in Spain for suspected links to Al Qaida. Alouni was allowed by Spanish authorities to address the Doha conference.