Congo police attack journos
2009-07-17 09:37
Libreville - Police in the Republic of Congo attacked two journalists for France 24 public television and a BBC colleague during a post-electoral demonstration, they said on Thursday.
The three journalists had all taken shelter in the wake of the violence on Wednesday in Congo's capital Brazzaville, Arnaud Zajtman of France 24 said. "We had to leave our hotel yesterday (Wednesday) because we didn't feel safe."
Police earlier seized the working equipment of the three journalists while they were covering a protest at the announced re-election of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Zajtman said.
Normally based in Kinshasa, he crossed the Congo River to Brazzaville for the elections, accompanied by his colleague Marlene Rabaud, with BBC reporter Thomas Fessy, who said the three were together when "police attacked us".
Threats and intimidation
The France 24 camera was broken and Fessy said a policeman "pulled my hair until I handed over my recorder", Officers also took a bag of equipment, he added.
On Wednesday, Congolese police spokesperson Colonel Jean-Aive Alakoua said police had turned out to manage the demonstration, not France 24. "It was up to journalists to be prudent and stay on the right side," he added.
During and after Sunday's vote, journalists complained of threats and intimidation.
The authorities several times criticised the international media for "putting out false information".
Congolese opposition figures said several people were hurt when police broke up on Wednesday's demonstration in Brazzaville, but no casualty figures could be obtained.
- SAPA
