Newspaper editor released after four months in jail

The editor of Togolese newspaper which called for an end to the 36-year rule of President Gnassingbe Eyadema has been released from prison after being held for four months without trial, the Writers in Prison Committee of the press freedom body Internation PEN, said.

Sylvestre Djalin Nicoue, managing director of the weekly newspaper Le Courier du Citoyen was released on May 7 as Eyadema prepared to seek a further five years in office in presidential elections due on June 1, the London-based organisation said in a statement.

International PEN said Nicoue was arrested and detained without trial on 26 December 2002 for an article which called on the Togolese people to end Eyadema's rule.

It appeared a few days before Togo's constitution was amended to allow Eyadema to seek re-election indefinitely.

The Togolese government has been heavily criticised by various human rights organisations for human rights abuses and the draconian restricitions which it has placed on press freedom.

The government has closed two private radio stations over the last 15 months for criticising Eyadema's rule.

Tropik FM was closed "until further notice" on 28 February after the government body which regulates the media accused it of allowing the opposition to insult Eyadema's government.

Before that Radio Victoire went off the air on 7 February 2002 for broadcasting programmes which the government deemed to be libellous and emotional. One of these had denounced human rights violations in the country.