Sierra Leone ALERT: Newspaper editor physically assaulted

David Jabati, editor of  the Exclusive, a Freetown-based independent newspaper was on March 13, 2008 violently assaulted by angry supporters of the  ruling All People’s Congress Party (APC) at the Headquarters of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that Jabtai, who had gone to the party’s headquarters to cover a clash between the two main political parties in the country, was accused by the APC youth of being a supporter of the opposition SLPP.

“My trousers was torn apart but later the police came in to rescue me from my attackers”, Jabati told the MFWA’s correspondent.

The correspondent said the youth took away two cellular phones and amount of US$ 200 as well as an unspecified amount of Leons (the local currency).

Jabati has since filed a complaint to the Sierra Leonean authorities.

Media Foundation for West Africa