Sudan newspaper to appeal against suspension

KHARTOUM, Nov 18 (Reuters) – A Sudanese editor said on Tuesday he would appeal against an order to suspend publication of his newspaper which the authorities have accused of publishing articles that threatened the state.

The independent al-Ayyam daily was suspended from publication on Monday by the higher prosecutor of crimes against the state until investigations of cases filed against it are completed.

“I met the higher prosecutor…and he said our newspaper has been publishing dangerous articles which are a threat to the safety of the state,” editor Mahjoub Mohamed Salih told Reuters.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir issued a decree in August lifting censorship of newspapers by the security service. Journalists said three newspapers have been suspended since then, but have since resumed publication.

Salih said the prosecutor questioned him about some articles published over the past 16 months and which the prosecutor said were false.

The editor said many of the articles were about the western area of Darfur, where a ceasefire signed in September between Khartoum and a western rebel group is under strain.

The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) emerged as a fighting force in Darfur in February, accusing the government of marginalising the poor, arid region. Since the ceasefire, both sides have accused the other of violations.

Salih said his lawyers were preparing an appeal against the suspension which would be presented to the prosecutor general on Wednesday.