http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jA0e0GJ0jiKz-oplMUwNtgsUlnRA

Gambia president threatens journalists

(AFP) – 8 hours ago

BANJUL, Gambia — Gambia's President Yaya Jammeh, whose government is
regularly criticised over violating press freedoms, on Wednesday warned
journalists against tarnishing the image of the West African country.

"Any journalist who thinks that he or she can write whatever he or she
wants, and go free, is making a big mistake", Jammeh told state owned GRTS
television.

"If anybody is caught, he will be severely dealt with," Jammeh said.

Jammeh has ruled Gambia, the smallest nation on the African mainland, since
he took power in a bloodless coup in 1994.

Gambia is regularly criticised for human rights violations, particularly
freedom of the press.

The country ranks 137th out of 173 in a worldwide classification of press
freedom set up by the Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders.

Currently, seven Gambian journalists are standing trial on charges of
sedition and criminal defamation for criticizing Jammeh.

The Gambia Press Union last month issued a statement criticizing the
comments he made in a television interview regarding the 2004 murder of
prominent Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara.

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