Algeria Snubs Media Watchdog

Published June 25th, 2000 - 03:00 GMT

A delegation from the media watchdog 'Reporters Sans Frontiers' that arrived in Algeria on Friday to examine the difficulties and dangers facing Algerian journalists was snubbed by the country's national union of journalists, reported the BBC.online.

Quoting a member of the Paris-based media watchdog, the BBC said its visit aimed at reporting on media freedom.

But the national union of journalists has urged its members to boycott the visit and not to meet with the team's leader, Robert Menard, said the organization member.

The union accused Menard of arrogance and claimed he did not believe that Algerian journalists could be independent and free of military censorship, said the member - Albawaba.com