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Alert

Presidential guards threaten journalists

(MFWA/IFEX) - On October 6, 2009, a number of journalists were threatened by Red Berets deployed at the Bellevue Presidential Resort in Conakry, the capital of Guinea.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that the journalists had gathered under a tree on the premises of the presidential resort to cover ongoing mediation talks to resolve the political situation in the country.

The correspondent said one of the Red Berets, who was identified only as a lieutenant, was outraged by the presence of the journalists, and threatened: "We are going to kill all of you very soon. We are going to raid your offices to turn everything upside down because you are the ones disseminating false information about us. You will all die and the whole world is going to talk about the Guinean media."

Another Red Beret, identified as the bodyguard of Frederik Kolié, Minister of Interior and Political Affairs, told a reporter with the privately-owned Nostagie FM: "You, bastard, you can record what we are saying. One day, I am going to get you. I will deal with you. I have located you and you will not escape from me."