Sudanese journalist detained for 48 hours

Oct 1, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — A journalist with the independent Khartoum based Al-Ray Al-Aam newspaper has been detained by the security services for the past 48 hours, without charges colleagues and the journalists’ union said Sunday.

There was no immediate word on the reason for the arrest of Abu Obeida Abdallah but Journalists’ Union president Mohi Eddin Tetawe demanded that he immediately be charged or released.

“We have demanded that our colleague either be released or taken to trial in 48 hours as the law stipulates,” Tetawe said.

The journalist’s colleagues said they had been told he was with the political security department “for investigation” but did not elaborate.

The union’s secretary general Al Fatih Al Sayyed said he had been assured by the authorities that Aballa would be freed soon.

(ST/AFP)