Algeria pardons convicted journalists

The decree issued by Algeria's president to pardon all journalists convicted of defamation or insulting state institutions has been greeted by the Paris-based press freedom body, Reporters Without Borders. It issued a press release hailing the decision by Abdelaziz Bouteflika but urging him remove laws against journalists. Mohamed Benchicou, the former managing editor of Le Matin, who was recently released from prison, said: "This is clearly a welcome move but... it has come after three years of unprecedented political, police, judicial and fiscal harassment in which seven journalists were imprisoned and 23 others were given prison sentences." (Via AllAfrica News: Press and Media)