Angolan police arrested radio journalist Adão Tiago for reporting on a bizarre nationwide wave of mass fainting.
Since April, more than 800 people, mostly teenage schoolchildren, have fainted after complaining of sore throats and eyes, shortness of breath and coughs.
Amid news reports of unidentified toxic substances, Angola's interior minister ordered an investigation into the cause. There have been claims that the media is to blame for creating mass hysteria.
Tiago was detained in Luanda over a 29 July report on Radio Ecclesia about the fainting of some 20 students at a local school where he happens to teach English. He was released after 23 hours of questioning.
Mohamed Keita, the Africa advocacy coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Tiago's arrest of "highlights the Angolan government's obsession with controlling information... instead of focusing on addressing a very serious national crisis."
Source: CPJ
