Gabon suspends six newspapers
The National Communications Council in Gabon has reportedly suspended six private newspapers for "violating the ethics of journalism" and "inciting ethnic divisions".
The government agency responsible for monitoring the media announced the suspensions of up to three months on Tuesday 10 November 2009. Media rights group, the Committee to Protect Journalists, condemned the suspensions and called on Gabon's council to lift them immediately.
The group said it was an attempt to silence any potential critics of the election process, as all the newspapers suspended had published articles criticising the latest national poll.
Ali Bongo was declared the winner of disputed presidential elections in September. He replaced his father and previous president, Omar Bongo, who died in June after ruling Gabon for 41 years.
Source: Panos London
