ALERT - CÔTE D'IVOIRE

2 February 2004

Three journalists assaulted by presidential guardsmen

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) - A photographer with "Le Patriote", a daily that is close to the
opposition, and two other journalists were recently assaulted by members of
Ivoirian President Laurent Gbagbo's presidential guard.

On 31 January 2004, "Le Patriote" photographer Ibrahim Diarra was beaten up
by presidential guardsmen in Yamoussoukro, during a foundation stone-laying
ceremony held at the future location of the presidential residence. Diarra
was taking photographs of security agents when they stopped him and asked
him who his employer was. They then combed through the journalist's personal
documents and found a letter written by him in which he mentioned an
incident that took place when he covered a press conference of the Côte
d'Ivoire Patriotic Movement (Mouvement patriotique de Côte d'Ivoire, MPCI, a
former rebel group). The soldiers then accused Diarra of being an assailant
and beat him up.

Charles Sanga, another "Le Patriote" reporter, and Frank Konaté, of the
daily "24 Heures", were also beaten up after they came to their colleague's
defence.

Diarra was treated for injuries to his head and genitals at the Treichville
(Abidjan) University hospital.

"It is unacceptable that members of the president's security service can,
with total impunity, attack a journalist who is covering an official event.
The head of state must punish these officers and keep his troops in line,"
said RSF. "Such actions reinforce the climate of insecurity that surrounds
the work of journalists in Côte d'Ivoire," the organisation added.

For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, 5, rue
Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45
23 11 51, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.org

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
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