MFWA says pro-opposition paper suspended in Cote d'Ivoire

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The Accra-based sub-regional rights body, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), on Monday said that the media regulatory body in Cote d'Ivoire has suspended ‘Notre Voie’, a privately-owned pro-opposition daily newspaper, “for four publications”.

This, according to the rights body, followed the publication of materials that the Ivorian National Press Commission (CNP) said amounted to “distortion of facts".

In a statement, MFWA further revealed that the newspaper, in its 12-13 May editions, published an article stating: “It is more than a year now since the regime imprisoned them; let us not forget them for genuine reconciliation to take place, they must be freed!!”?

The paper also reportedly illustrated the article with photographs captioned “H.E Laurent Gbagbo, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, overthrown by the UN-French coalition on April 11, 2011”.

The regulatory body was said to have reacted by coming up with sanctions against the pro-opposition newspaper.
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 21May2012