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Tunisia reporter move 'bodes ill' | Tunisia reporter move 'bodes ill' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A group of pro-government reporters has seized control of Tunisia's largest journalism union two months before a general election, activists say. | A group of pro-government reporters has seized control of Tunisia's largest journalism union two months before a general election, activists say. |
Reporters Without Borders says it is concerned for the independence of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists. | Reporters Without Borders says it is concerned for the independence of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists. |
The group says the move bodes ill for the fairness of the forthcoming vote, where President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is going for a fifth term in office. | The group says the move bodes ill for the fairness of the forthcoming vote, where President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is going for a fifth term in office. |
Tunisian officials have not yet responded to the allegations. | |
Members of Tunisia's journalism union accused pro-government reporters of using internal regulations to take over. | Members of Tunisia's journalism union accused pro-government reporters of using internal regulations to take over. |
Union President Neji Bghouri told the pressure group: "This was a government takeover of an organisation that was meant to be independent and autonomous." | Union President Neji Bghouri told the pressure group: "This was a government takeover of an organisation that was meant to be independent and autonomous." |
Reporters Without Borders said the move "bodes ill not only for the union's independence but also for Tunisia's already extremely limited degree of press freedom". | Reporters Without Borders said the move "bodes ill not only for the union's independence but also for Tunisia's already extremely limited degree of press freedom". |
President Ben Ali has been in power since a bloodless coup in 1997. | President Ben Ali has been in power since a bloodless coup in 1997. |
He changed the constitution in 2002 to allow himself more time in office and has polled more than 90% of the vote in each of the four previous elections. | He changed the constitution in 2002 to allow himself more time in office and has polled more than 90% of the vote in each of the four previous elections. |
He is regularly criticised for tolerating no internal dissent. | He is regularly criticised for tolerating no internal dissent. |