Newspaper's publisher and editor get 18 months in prison and heavy fines for criticising prime minister

"These sentences are absurd and grossly unfair," the press freedom organisation said. "There has been repeated denial of justice in this case. Firstly, they were arrested in an outrageous manner. Then they were detained far from their homes without being able to see anyone. And now they have been tried by a court that was clearly bent on punishing them from the outset."

Reporters Without Borders added: "Everything suggests that Abou and Keïta are now the prime minister's personal prisoners. President Mamadou Tandja should realise that these heavy sentences will not benefit either Niger or his prime minister and constitute a serious breach of press freedom."

Abou and Keïta were accused by the government of "disseminating false news" and "libel" in a 28 July article critical of the prime minister. The 18-month prison sentences were what the prosecution requested, while the fines of 5 million CFA francs (7,600 euros) were 100 times what the court had been asked to impose on Keïta. The journalists' lawyers have already lodged an appeal.

Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard sent a personal letter to the prime minister on 23 August asking him "to withdraw the complaint against Le Républicain and to embark on a new relationship with the public and privately-owned press, one based on the need to establish news rules of operating."

Underlining the organisation's strong opposition to draconian laws for press offences, the letter argued: "Imprisoning journalists for offences linked to their work is counter-productive. Instead of obtaining reparation in a fair and credible debate, you end up - rightly or wrongly - being blamed for two high-profile political prisoners, with a discredited judicial system and with a reputation of inflexibility and inhumaneness." The letter did not get a reply.