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Algerian Journalist Placed in Pretrial Detention for Alleged Defamation

Agence France-Presse

   ALGIERS, ALGERIA - The director of an Algerian internet radio station
   has been placed in pretrial detention after a new charges were pressed
   against him, a prisoner rights group said Friday.
   Sarbacanechief AbdelkrimZeghilechewas put in pretrial detention on
   Thursday after the governor of Constantine, 430 kilometers (260 miles)
   east of Algiers, lodged a defamation complaint against him, said
   KaciTansaout, head of the CNLD prisoner rights group.
   The journalist was immediately brought before a judge who ordered his
   detention,Tansaouttold AFP, adding that the trialwas scheduled for
   December31.
   In another case againstZeghileche, the court will rule on January 7 on
   a charge of "insulting the head of state."
   That case is based on a complaint lodged while formerPresident
   Abdelaziz Bouteflika was still in power.
   The veteran leader stepped down after a 20-year rule in April in the
   face of an unprecedented popular movement that broke out in February
   and has continued since, demanding the removal of the entire regime.
   The prosecutor requested one year's imprisonment in that case, said the
   CNLD, which tracks people detained in connection with the protest
   movement.
   According to the CNLD, nearly 180 protesters, activists and
   journalistshave beenplaced in pretrial detention since June for links
   to the protests.
   Most have been held on charges of subverting the state, insulting the
   army and disturbing the peace.

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