Journo arrested without reason
2007-12-15 08:52
Ndjamena - Chadian authorities on Friday arrested the director of a weekly newspaper, and a colleague said no information had been given on why he was detained.
"He was arrested at his home at about 06:00 (05:00 GMT) by about 20 police officers," said Nguemadji Djimasngar, editor-in-chief of the Notre Temps weekly. "We don't know why he was arrested and we are worried."
He said police acted without an arrest warrant when they arrested Nadjikimo Benoudjita.
Security sources said the director was being held at an intelligence services building.
Chad's journalists union and two journalist organisations issued a joint statement calling the arrest a "kidnapping" and demanding his release.
Chadian authorities have been quick to clamp down on alleged offences committed by the press and have faced criticism from media rights organisations in the past.