French foreign minister asked to raise press freedom during visit

Reporters Without Borders wrote to French foreign minister Michel Barnier today reminding him of the extremely grave press freedom violations in Libya and asking him to raise them with Libyan government representatives during an official visit to Tripoli on 5-6 October. "Press freedom is still virtually non-existent in Libya despite the regime's efforts to acquire a new, improved image as regards human rights," the organisation said. "The print and broadcast media have been under the regime's tutelage for years, no criticism of the president is tolerated and all journalists practice self-censorship. If foreign reporters manage to get one of the few press visas to go there, they are closely monitored." Reporters Without Borders said the Libyan regime holds the record for the longest imprisonment of a journalist - Abdullah Ali al-Sanussi al-Darrat, who has been detained without trial since 1973. His place of detention and state of health are unknown. Barnier should ask what has happened to Al-Darrat as well as raise all the other press freedom issues, the organisation said.