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PRESS RELEASE/ALERT - THE GAMBIA

20 October 2003

Newspaper's offices attacked

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a CPJ press release:

THE GAMBIA: Newspaper's offices attacked

New York, October 20, 2003-The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the
Friday, October 17, arson attack on the offices of the private, biweekly
Independent newspaper, located in a suburb of the capital, Banjul.

According to local journalists, on the evening of October 17, three unidentified
men assaulted a private security guard in front of the paper's offices, using
tear gas and an iron bar and knocking the guard unconscious. After tricking a
second guard into leaving his post, the assailants doused the building's windows
and doors with gasoline and set it on fire, as well as the electrical meter
located outside. The attackers fled the scene without entering the building,
local journalists said.

The first guard was hospitalized and is recovering from his injuries.

Staff at the security firm alerted the fire department, which arrived to put out
the blaze. Staff also called the police, who inspected the premises the next
day. However, journalists at The Independent told CPJ that the fire damaged the
power supply to the building, and that the paper would make alternative
arrangements to print today's edition.

Gambian journalists said the attack may have come in reprisal for the
newspaper's reporting, which is highly critical of the government.

"We call on Gambian authorities to conduct a full and independent investigation
into this attack, and to ensure a safe environment for journalists," said CPJ
Executive Director Ann Cooper.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information about press conditions
in The Gambia, visit www.cpj.org.

For further information, contact Adam Posluns (ext. 107) or Alexis Arieff (ext.
117) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004,
fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
Internet: http://www.cpj.org/

The information contained in this press release/alert is the sole responsibility
of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit CPJ.
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