Dubai  - Saudi owned al-Arabiya news channel protested on Tuesday over the expulsion of their Tehran bureau chief.

Iran has banned Hassan Fahs from working in the country and ordered him to leave Tehran on Tuesday, alleging biased reporting.

The Dubai-based channel insisted its news was balanced and that it gave Iranian officials the chance to respond to main reports on Iran.

France-based media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders has called on the Iranian authorities to rescind their decision of expelling Fahs.

The pan-Arab channel is considered al-Jazeera's main competitor among Arab television networks. (dpa)