Wade fires propaganda chief

2008-08-29 08:02

Dakar - Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade dismissed his party's powerful propaganda chief from the government on Thursday after newspapers accused the minister of orchestrating attacks on independent media, the government said.

A series of attacks on journalists have helped tarnish the West African country's reputation for stable democracy, which has made it a favourite with Western donors.

Wade issued a decree dismissing Farba Senghor as Minister for Crafts and Air Transport, government spokesperson Abdul Aziz Sow told Reuters.

It was unclear whether Senghor's post as Director of Propaganda in Wade's ruling Democratic Party (PDS) would be affected.

Papers' offices raided

Unidentified men raided the offices of two privately-owned newspapers in Senegal's capital Dakar after dark on August 17, sprayed mace at employees and destroyed reporting and printing equipment.

The newspapers accused Senghor of ordering the attacks, which he has denied.

"Senghor's name was brought up in the course of an investigation. This will allow him to defend himself in court," said Sow, who is minister of information.

Both newspapers, "L'As" and "24 Heures Chrono", had been critical of government ministers including Senghor in a bitter dispute between Wade's administration and privately controlled media since police beat up two reporters in June.

Many privately owned newspapers and radio stations joined a campaign to have the police officers put on trial.

The dispute became increasingly acrimonious when newspapers printed details of Senghor's private life and he responded by asking government and party colleagues to cut off their advertising contracts.

- Reuters