Seizure of a daily

On 9 March the Sudanese authorities confiscated the print-runs of the daily Khartoum Monitor, even before it was circulated. 'We denounce this constant policy of harassment against independent newspapers. Summons, veiled threats, seizures-such has been the lot, for too long now, of this press which consequently incurs huge financial losses. We call on the Sudanese authorities to put an end to these practices', said Robert Ménard, secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders. On 9 March the Sudanese authorities confiscated the English-language daily the Khartoum Monitor at the newspaper printworks. The same day, in the afternoon, Nhial Bol, the editor of the daily, was summoned by the security services. The following day, the latter declared that this censure was due to an article mentioning that the history of Islam in Sudan had not always been peaceful. Nhial Bol told Reporters Without Borders: 'The aim of this type of confiscation was to make the newspaper incur financial difficulties'