Two Togolese newspapers seized over rights report

LOME, Togo (Reuters) -- Togolese security forces have seized copies of two newspapers which published extracts of a report by a human rights group in the West African country, staff at the papers said late on Monday.

They said copies of weeklies "Le Combat du Peuple" and "Scorpion" were seized on Monday, when both published a July 20 report on the country by the Togolese Human Rights League (LTDH).

The directors of both publications told Reuters they were questioned for six hours on Monday afternoon along with LTDH President Kofimessa Devotsou by the interior and security minister, General Sizing Walla.

The three were then allowed to leave.

LTDH's report, marking the group's 10th anniversary, contained allegations of arbitrary arrests and torture, political violence and infringements of freedom of expression.

Walla said the report did not reflect the human rights situation in the country and went beyond the remit of LTDH as a private institution, sources said.

The directors of the publications told Reuters that Walla had told them not to become mouthpieces for the human rights group.

The United Nations said on June 7 that it would take part in a probe headed by Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema into the alleged murder of hundreds of people in Togo two years ago after 1998 elections. Rights groups blamed paramilitary forces.

Amnesty International has listed 48 political assassinations in Togo between 1991 and 1997 in addition to several hundred executions and disappearances around the 1998 election that kept Eyadema in power.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more Africa news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Africa

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.