[ 2012-07-07 ]

Media rights group slams attack on Togo journalist
LOME (AFP) - A US-based media rights group has
condemned an attack on a local journalist covering
a protest in Togo and urged the authorities to
punish the perpetrators.

New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists
said Atayi Ayi, a reporter for the daily Forum de
la Semaine, was taking photographs of a protest in
the capital Lome on Monday when he was attacked.

"Two groups of unidentified demonstrators beat him
and seized his camera," the CPJ said, adding that
the attack left him with injuries to his right
eye, a bloody nose, and bruises all over his
body.

"Journalists should not fear for their safety
simply because they are covering a demonstration,"
said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed
Keita. "We condemn the attack on Atayi Ayi and
call on Togolese police to thoroughly
investigate", he added.

Togo, a West African nation of some six million
people, has been wracked by a wave of
demonstrations seeking changes to electoral laws
that have allowed the same family of Gnassingbe
Eyadema to rule for more than four decades.

Source - AFP

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