Guinea

New York, August 14, 2007—A court in the Guinean capital of Conakry handed down suspended prison sentences on Monday to two private newspaper directors in connection with articles alleging corruption by a former government minister, according to local journalists.

Thiernodjo Diallo of La Vérité and Abdoul Azziz Camara of Libération were each sentenced to six-month prison terms, a total fine of 50 million Guinean francs (US$13,000), and ordered to publish the verdict, defense lawyer Christian Sow told CPJ. An appeal was filed this morning, according to Sow.

New York, February 14, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports of increasing government crackdowns on the media after President Lansana Conté declared martial law on Monday in response to deadly unrest in the country.

112 people have died since union leaders launched a national strike last month to demand the resignation of ailing President Conté, in power since 1984, according to international news reports. An 18-day strike in January was called off by union leaders after President Conté promised to hand over powers to a prime minister, but resumed over the weekend after unions rejected the nomination of Eugene Camara.