ABIDJAN, 25 September (IRIN) - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday expressed "deep concern" at what it described as the increased harassment of Senegalese journalists by government authorities since President Abdoulaye Wade took office in April 2000.

"We are particularly disturbed by the prosecution of Alioune Fall, editor-in-chief of the independent Dakar-based daily 'Le Matin', on charges of publishing false information," CPJ said in a letter to Wade dated 24 September. It noted that Senegal had long been a model for press freedom in West Africa, and that because of the respect Senegalese authorities have generally shown the media in recent years, CPJ had not published a section on Senegal in its annual report on press freedom abuse around the world.

According to the body, Wade's post-election call for more press freedom had led journalists to believe that the authorities would repeal laws which exposed them to criminal prosecution for their work, but that had not happened.

On at least five occasions since April 2000, Senegalese authorities have used various statutes to arrest and interrogate journalists whose only "offense" appeared to be reporting on sensitive issues, CPJ said. "Among these issues are the conflict in the southern region of Casamance, where rebels have been fighting for independence for 20 years," it added.

CPJ urged Wade to make sure the charges against Fall were dropped and to do everything he could "to repeal criminal defamation statutes and other laws that criminalise journalism, to ensure that authorities cease harassing journalists, and to secure the right of journalists to protect their sources of information."