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Alert

Police hold two journalists illegally after clashes outside Supreme Court

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders and its local partner organisation, Journalist in Danger (JED), have called on the Congolese authorities to explain why they have been holding two journalists since 21 November 2006 without bringing charges against them. The two were arrested following clashes at the Supreme Court between police and supporters of presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba.

"There can be no exceptions to the rule of law at such a tense moment for the Democratic Republic of Congo," the two organisations said. "These two journalists clearly did nothing to justify being detained and everything suggests they were arrested for witnessing something the authorities would prefer not to be publicised."

Reporters Without Borders and JED added: "Under these circumstances, they must be released unconditionally. If, on the other hand, the judicial authorities believe they are in a position to bring charges, the two journalists must be granted their right to be treated according to the law."

Clément Nku, a cameraman with Canal Congo Télévision (CCTV), a television station owned by Bemba, was arrested after filming the events at the Supreme Court. He has since been held without charge at the Kinshasa Provincial Inspectorate (IPK), the police headquarters.

His family believes he was arrested for filming policemen taking off their uniforms and fleeing from clashes with Bemba supporters.

Bosange Mbaka, a reporter with the magazine "Mambenga", was arrested near the scene of the clashes. He has since been held illegally at the headquarters of the police's Special Services Unit, known as "Kin Mazière".