With the Ivory Coast now said to be "on the brink of genocide", journalists trying to work in the country are coming under increasing pressure.
The publication of newspapers has been obstructed, local retransmission of certain foreign radio and TV stations has been blocked and there has been a disturbing decline in the security of journalists, creating a climate of fear and intimidation for the media.
At least 10 foreign journalists have been arrested in the past month. Troops loyal to the president, Laurent Gbagbo, turned their Kalashnikovs on a France 2 crew, while live rounds were used to disperse a France 3 crew. None were injured.
Ggagbo is holding on to power despite his rival, Alassane Ouattara, being internationally accepted as the winner of the recent presidential election.
Now the nation's press is split into pro-Ggagbo and pro-Outtara factions, with the former attacking foreign, particularly French, coverage of the presidential election fallout.
The state-owned Radio-Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) continues to take Ggagbo's side. It accused the French news channel France 24 of trying to "destabilise the country" by broadcasting the independent electoral council's proclamation of provisional results, according to which Ouattara won the presidential election.
The daily Le Temps accused the French media of "showing bad faith." The same day, Notre Voie ran the headline: "Election second round, lies and disinformation from France 24 and RFI."
Freelance cameraman Alassane Kanaté, who works for France 24, was arrested at a military roadblock, held overnight and mistreated while in detention.
Two journalists working for the opposition daily Le Mandat were arrested and beaten before being released.
The signals of all international radio and TV news stations carried by the Canal+ Horizon satellite service were suspended on the orders of the National Broadcasting Council (CNCA) on 2 December, citing the need to "preserve social peace."
Members of the Republican Guard raided a printing company on 16 December in order to prevent it from printing the independent daily L'Intelligent d'Abidjan and seven opposition newspapers.
The Republican Guard also ordered the distributor Presstalis not to distribute any opposition newspapers, though this was overruled three days later.
Since 24 December, La Première, RTI's major TV channel, has not been available in France or in neighbouring African countries, due to the jamming of satellite service.
Sources: AllAfrica.com/BBC/The Guardian/Agencies/Reporters without Borders
