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Alert

French TV network France 24 allowed to resume local retransmission

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that local retransmission of the French TV news station France 24 resumed on 2 March 2010 in Côte d'Ivoire after the National Council for Audiovisual Communication (CNCA), which is responsible for regulating broadcasting, decided to rescind the suspension order it issued on 22 February.

"This satisfactory outcome ends a week in which Ivorians were deprived of a major international news source," the press freedom organisation said.

After the CNCA met in extraordinary session on 2 March in the evening, its secretary-general announced "the lifting of the precautionary measure suspending France 24's signal." Local retransmission resumed at around 7:00 pm local time on 2 March.

The CNCA said in a statement that the decision to lift the suspension was taken after a France 24 representative "pledged to take measures so that news about Côte d'Ivoire is handled in a more professional manner." The statement added that "the undertakings were confirmed in a letter from France 24's management to the CNCA on 26 February."

When the CNCA announced the suspension on 22 February, it accused France 24 of covering local news "in a biased and unprofessional manner."