Secret tribunal orders Reuters cameraman held for six months

Reporters Without Borders said today it was appalled by the announcement that a secret tribunal composed of representatives of the Iraqi government and the US forces in Iraq has ordered that Reuters TV cameraman Ali Omar Abrahem Al-Mashadani should be held for at least six months in Abu Ghraib prison for reasons that are still unknown. "We reiterate our call to the US army to free Mashadani at once," the press freedom organisation said. "It is shocking to see that the US forces refuse to say why they are holding him and prevent him from seeing a lawyer or receiving a visit from his family or his employers in violation of the most basic rights." Reporters Without Borders added: "We demand to be told what Mashadani is accused of doing. If the US forces have evidence suggesting he did anything illegal, they should show it to his family and his employer. The US army's stubbornness in refusing to answer Reporters Without Borders' letters and requests from his family and Reuters is alarming." A US army spokesman said today that Mashadani would be entitled to a review of his case within 180 days and that he would not be allowed to receive any visits for the first 60 days. Mashadani has been detained in Abu Ghraib prison since 8 August without the US army giving any grounds for holding him. His family said US marines arrested him after viewing what was on his camera tapes during a routine check at his home. At least two journalists or foreign news agency employees are still being held by the US army in Iraq. The US military high command continues to refuse to comment on the subject.