Ivorian Police arrest, detain director of pro-Gbagbo publishing company

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Ousmane Sy Savané, the Director General of Cylcone, a pro-Gbagbo publishing company, was reportedly picked up and detained by Ivorian Police, PANA confirmed from here Friday.

According to the sub-regional press freedom watchdog, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Ousmane was arrested by police personnel drawn from the Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DST) in Abidjan on 27 March and no reasons have so far been given for his arrest and subsequent detention.  

He was arrested in his office in Cocody (Abidjan) which was said to have been thoroughly searched. Office computers taken away by the police were returned after an hour.

MFWA further indicated that Cyclone Publishing Limited is owned by the second wife of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo and the company publishes two dailies, ‘Le Temps’ and ‘LG Info’ as well as a weekly ‘Luxury Mag.’

Savané's arrest and detention came shortly after he returned from neighboring Ghana where
many pro-Gbagbo loyalists, including the militants who fought on his side, are said to have taken refuge after Gbagbo’s arrest last April.
-0- PANA MLJ/VAO 30March2012