Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Monday (2 July 2010) that the Rwandan media regulatory body ordered security forces on Wednesday to shut down all newspapers and radio stations that it deemed to be operating illegally.
Leading newspapers, such as Umuseso, Umuvugizi and Umurabayo, and radio stations including Voice of Africa Rwanda and Voice of America were closed for allegedly failing to operate under "publication or broadcasting conditions envisaged by the law", according to RSF.
The group added that the move was aimed at preventing journalists from acting as independent and impartial observers of the elections.
Panos London promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in national and international development debates through media and communication projects. It is part of the worldwide Panos Network of independent institutes working to ensure that information is used more effectively to foster debate, pluralism and democracy.
Go to: http://www.panos.org.uk