The ITC's action followed complaints by Turkey that armed guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had used the station to issue calls for attacks against Turkey after the capture of guerilla leader Abdullah Ocalan in February.

Iran protest: Some demonstrations turned violent

A wave of violence swept Turkey, and demonstrations took place across Europe, in the wake of the capture.

The ITC, which regulates all commercial TV stations in the UK, said it was not in the public interest to have any broadcaster use the UK as a platform for broadcasts which incite people to violence.

Med-TV said it was "outraged" by the decision.

"The decision is undoubtedly political and Med-TV fears the decision is inspired by the UK government's relationship with Turkey, its Nato ally, particularly at the present time."

It added: "We can reassure the Kurdish people that we will be back on air before long."

It is the first time the ITC has revoked a TV station's licence.

The ITC had already issued a series of warnings to Med-TV over its breach of broadcasting impartiality codes.

Last month it temporarily suspended the station's broadcasts following transmissions which it said were likely to encourage crime or disorder.

Now it has gone a step further and, although the order will not formally take effect for 28 days, the station will not be allowed to resume broadcasts during this period.

Guerilla leader Abdullah Ocalan: Capture sparked demonstrations

ITC Chairman Sir Robin Biggam said that while the commission had taken "sympathetic" account of the circumstances in which the offending broadcasts had been made, the ITC had decided to revoke the station's licence "in the public interest".

Med-TV now has a number of options. It could try to get a licence granted in another country, it could try to struggle on using satellite feeds booked by the hour, which appear to fall outside any UK licensing regulations, it could make more use of the Internet, and it could set up a different TV channel in the UK or elsewhere.

Mr Ocalan faces a trial for treason for orchestrating a 14-year armed campaign for Kurdish self-rule in the south east of Turkey in which more than 29,000 people have died. He faces the death penalty if convicted.