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Alert

Ruling party militants violently assault radio journalist

(MFWA/IFEX) - Gibril Gottor, a reporter for Radio Kolenten, based in the Kambia district of northwestern Sierra Leone, was violently assaulted by a group of men on 10 October 2009 for allegedly "sabotaging" the government. The men are believed to be supporters of the ruling All People's Congress Party (APC).

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that the militants, led by Saidu Sesay, an APC youth leader in Kambia, assaulted Gottor and stripped him naked in a neighbouring town in the district where he had gone to investigate smuggling allegations. The journalist sustained multiple wounds to his body, including his head. He was treated and later discharged from the district government hospital.

Gottor, who is also the local correspondent for the Freetown-based United Nations Radio, was accused by the militants of being an opposition journalist. He told MFWA's correspondent that prior to the attack he had received numerous threats from the militants and their leader.