Mali: French Journalists Detained, Roughed up in Bamako

Reporters Without Borders condemns the detention of several foreign journalists for several hours on 8 February in Bamako. The arrests, during which one was physically attacked, occurred when "Green Berets," who carried out last March's coup d'état, attacked the barracks of former President Amadou Toumani Touré's "Red Beret" bodyguards.

"Assaulting and arresting journalists and confiscating their equipment constitute an unacceptable violation of freedom of information," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. "The Green Berets, gendarmes and national guard deliberately sidelined journalists to prevent the circulation of photos and videos that would embarrass the new authorities. Such abuses must stop at once."

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