The authorities in Niger have suspended a June 3, 2010 Decree which the country's media and civil society groups say would restrict information flow and gag foreign journalists.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent in Niger reported that Djibo Salou, Head of State of the Transitional Government on June 12 announced the suspension of the Decree following widespread protests.

The new law had required foreign media outlets and their foreign journalists to seek clearance from the Ministry of Communication, New Technologies and Culture before filming documentaries in that country.

Article 6 of the Decree said: "...anyone applying for authorization to film documentaries and reports must, before entering Niger, be in possession of a copy of the authorization signed by the Minister of Communication", also "henceforth, any foreign media outfit, production agency, associations or NGO's that want to do documentaries or reports must pay for them".