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Cairo, 29 March: The General Secretariat of the Arab Journalists Union (AJU) strongly condemned threats posed to mediamen and journalists in Lebanon amid the prevailing atmosphere of political tension. The union, in a statement on Tuesday [29 March], said Arab journalists everywhere resent use of the current turbulence on the Lebanese arena to make threats against senior pressmen and news media in an Arab country which has long enjoyed freedom of the press and expression. The most dangerous threat is one to blow up a building housing a number of offices of newspapers, satellite channels and Arab and foreign news agencies in the heart of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Placing mock explosives in front of the house of the Lebanese Press Syndicate chairman Muhammad Ba'labbaki represents a flagrant violation of all laws, principles and norms and also of freedom of the press in general, it said. The union calls upon Lebanese authorities to provide security for all journalists in Beirut which has always been keen on providing a proper atmosphere for the prosperity of the press. Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 1429 gmt 29 Mar 05 BBC Mon ME1 MEPol MD1 Media vs back to news headlines |