Senegal Newspaper Raids Deepen Media Dispute

DAKAR, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Attackers ransacked the offices of two independent Senegalese newspapers at the weekend, editors said on Monday, deepening a bitter power struggle between authorities and non-state media in the West African country.

Unidentified men destroyed writing and printing equipment at the headquarters of privately-controlled papers “L’As” and “24 Heures Chrono”, which have both been critical of government ministers, the papers’ editors said.

They accused Farba Senghor, air transport minister and propaganda chief for President Abdoulaye Wade’s ruling Democratic Party (PDS), of being behind the raid. He denied any involvement.

Tensions between Wade’s cabinet and independent media have escalated in recent months, especially since police beat two radio reporters at a soccer match and many media outlets backed protests to put the officers on trial.

The tensions, and a parliamentary election last year which the main opposition boycotted in protest of what they say is Wade’s “monarchy”, have tarnished Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy and a favourite with foreign donors.

“These attacks have the backing of the authorities,” said 24 Heures Chrono editor El Malick Seck.

Police are investigating, the Interior Ministry said.

Critics accuse Wade of stifling opposition and political debate and are suspicious of the promotion of his son, Karim, to a number of influential roles

They say Wade aims to position Karim to succeed his father, whose second and final elected term ends in 2012.

Senghor accused L’As and 24 Heures Chrono and two other papers on Friday of a “relentless, orchestrated” campaign after a series of critical stories, some about his private life.

“Press freedom does not give a journalist the right to repeatedly attack honest citizens, whatever their position, with microphone or pen and go unpunished,” his office said in a statement.

“As a consequence, Minister Farba Senghor reserves the right to retaliate, and warns anybody who might be offended at his exercise of his legitimate right to defence.”

L’As editor-in-chief Cheikh Oumar Ndaw commented: “Three days after Farba’s statement we are attacked. Of course we made the link.” (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com) (Editing by Alistair Thomson and Mariam Karouny)

By Diadie Ba

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