Liberia: Journalist claims assault by Presidential guard

The sub-regional media watchdog, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), on Friday said a reporter of the state-owned New Liberia newsp a per, was assaulted by state security officials deployed at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Stadium in Monrovia Liberian capital.

According to MFWA the incident happened on 24 March when Peter Fahn, the journalist, wanted to cover an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) confe r ence held at the Stadium.

Fahn was reportedly slapped and hit on the chest by Ansu Johnson, a member of Liberia's Presidential Guard, when he wanted to enter the Stadium.

According to MFWA sources the journalist was assaulted even though he showed his accreditation and identity cards to the guards.

However, Liberian security has since denied the claims with Dominic Peters, the Director of the Presidential Guard, saying the journalist was "only shoved aside for breaching protocol procedure" after reporting late to the function.

- March 27, 2010 by PANA

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Source: www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/journalist-claims-assault-by-liberian-presidential-guard-2010032746657.html (accessed on 29.03.10)