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Alert

"Al-Rai Al-Aam" journalist held by security forces

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called on the Sudanese authorities to justify the secret detention of Abu Obeida Abdallah, a journalist from the independent daily "Al-Rai Al-Aam", arrested by security forces in Khartoum on 29 September 2006, without any official explanation.

"The Sudanese authorities must provide an explanation about the holding of Abu Obeida Abdallah", said Reporters Without Borders. "If he is being held because of his work, the journalist should be released immediately and without any action taken against him."

"If he is being held for other reasons, we demand that they be made public and that his right to impartial proceedings be respected," it added.

The information ministry admitted on 2 October that police were holding the journalist, a specialist on the Darfur question, for "investigation" and said he would be freed shortly but without elaborating. Obeida Abdallah has had no contact with colleagues or family since 29 September or any access to a lawyer. Under Sudanese law he should have been charged or released within 48 hours.

The journalist covered Darfur peace talks between the government and several rebel groups at the Abuja summit in May 2006. Some Sudanese journalists told Reporters Without Borders they believe he may be under questioning about these sensitive issues, perhaps to force him to reveal his sources.