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Alert

Radio journalist abducted, beaten and left for dead

(WAJA/IFEX) - The following is a WAJA press release:

Dakar, 5 July 2005

Malian journalist attacked

Dakar - The Mali Journalists' Union (UNAJOM) has reported that Hamidou Diarra, alias "Dragon", a journalist with Bamako's Radio Kélédou, was abducted by a group of unidentified persons while leaving his radio station on Tuesday 5 July 2005, at around 11:30 a.m. (local time).

Mr. Diarra was found later that afternoon, abandoned in the bush a few kilometres from Bamako. He was savagely beaten by his abducters, who probably thought he was dead. He was taken to hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment for his injuries.

This abduction in broad daylight marks an escalation in the increasingly frequent attacks on journalists in Mali.

WAJA condemns this attack on press freedom, which was aimed at intimidating journalists and preventing them from working effectively.

WAJA urges the Malian government to take the steps necessary to identify the authors of such attacks and to guarantee the safety of journalists and media organisations in the country.