Journalist arrested in Conakry

In a letter to President Lansana Conté, Reporters Without Borders protested the arrest of Boubacar Yacine Diallo, journalist and founder of the independent bi-monthly "L'Enquêteur", on the morning of 19 December 2002. "This arrest constitutes a violation of legal procedures," stated Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Robert Ménard. "Nothing justifies the detention of a journalist who was only doing his job. Furthermore, a journalist cannot be arrested or placed in police custody for a press crime under Guinean law." Reporters Without Borders called for Diallo's immediate release. Diallo is accused of having published an article in "L'Enquêteur" alleging that Colonel Mamadou Baldé, the army inspector-general, had resigned. Baldé refuted the information and accused his detractors of "wanting to do him in." The journalist is currently being held at the gendarmerie in Conakry. On 18 December, Abdoulaye Condé, publication director of "La Nouvelle Tribune", was brought in to meet with President Conté's aide-de-camp. He was accused of having published an article entitled "Who killed Conté?" that reported on the president's trip to Djeddah (Saudi Arabia) during which he is said to have fallen ill. Condé was released the same day. No charges have been laid against him.