The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has written to President Kumba Yala of Guinea-Bissau expressing serious concern at the government's closure of Radio Bombolom. According to reports, on 13 February police shuttered Radio Bombolom's offices, forcing the broadcaster off the air. The Ministry of Information accused the station of 'broadcasting false information that could jeopardise national sovereignty and the stability of the country'.

UNICEF has agreed to provide Guinea-Bissau with assistance worth US $23 million under a new five-year support and cooperation programme that will continue until 2007. The programme will cover child protection, nutritional health, primary education and functional literacy, and a social communication policy, the programme's coordinator, Karim Alkadiri, told IRIN.

Police in Guinea-Bissau have detained five prominent opposition politicians - including a former prime minister. The arrests come as the country prepares for early elections on 20 April.

Guinean League of Human Rights Vice-president Mr. Joao Vas Mane was arrested on January 29, 2003 and is being held without charge in Guinea-Bissau. Write to the authorities and lobby for his release and an end to the harassment of human rights defenders in the country.

General elections are to be held in Guinea-Bissau on 23 February, President Kumba Yala announced on Monday. The announcement came just over a week after Yala dissolved parliament and dismissed the Social Renovation Party (PRS) cabinet led by Prime Minister Almara Nhasse, replacing it with a caretaker administration.