Ivory Coast arrests reporter
2008-01-06 21:46
Abidjan - A French journalist has been arrested in Ivory Coast for reasons of national security after taking photographs outside the national TV headquarters, according to a government spokesperson.
"He is implicated in subversive activities," said Meite Sindou, spokesperson for Ivory Coast's prime minister.
"He was interrogated and he made a confession," Sindou said.
Jean-Paul Ney, who has written several books on terrorism, was arrested on December 27, Sindou said.
A diplomat at the French Embassy, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed that the journalist was in custody and that the embassy was in contact with Ivorian authorities.
An official with the capital's police department, who requested anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to reporters, said the journalist was being held at the Bureau of Surveillance.
As of Friday, he was still in custody there and was in the process of being interrogated.
- SAPA