AP correspondent asked to leave Ethiopia in 24 hours

Jan 21, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s Ministry of Information announced Saturday it was decided that the Associated Press correspondent in Ethiopia leave the country in 24 hours for “tarnishing the image of the nation, repeatedly contravening journalism ethics.”

In an official statement, the Press License and Control Department with the ministry said it was decided that AP correspondent Anthony Mitchell be expelled from the country for “disseminating information far from the truth about Ethiopia.”

“Though the correspondent was given repeated advice and reprimand for his misbehavior by the ministry, he continued to disseminate information bent on tarnishing the image of the country,” said the statement.

Accordingly, the ministry ordered the journalist be expelled from Ethiopia in 24 hours.

As an AP correspondent, Mitchell was in Ethiopia for four years. He is also working for IRIN, a UN humanitarian news and information service.

(Xinhua)