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Journalist arrested and jailed in Libreville

(JED/IFEX) - Alfred Ngamba, a journalist with the bi-monthly newspaper "Le Nganga", was arrested and detained on 8 March 2004. He is currently incarcerated at the "Gros bouquet" prison in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. "Le Nganga" is published in the capital.

According to "Le Nganga" editorial staff, Ngamba has been charged with libelling a medical doctor in an article he wrote for the paper. The unidentified doctor is also director of a well-known Libreville-based non-governmental organisation.

JED spoke with the newspaper's staff on 9 March, in the afternoon. They explained that "Le Nganga" had earlier published Ngamba's story about a rival of the doctor who purposely damaged the doctor's vehicle. According to the paper's editorial staff, the incident is well-known in Libreville and the matter is reportedly currently before the courts. "We cannot understand the motive behind this legal action that has resulted in our colleague's incarceration," the director of "Le Nganga" said.