Two newspapers closed in Sudan

Two Sudanese private newspapers have been closed by the police in less than two weeks in January 2012. Alwan and Rai al-Shaab were two independent opposition dailies, published in Arabic: the first one was closed after having published an interview with a local religious leader, while the second was the official newspaper of the opposition group Popular National Congress. Khartoum authorities stated that the two dailies had violated the journalist ethical and professional standards, and this caused the closure. While asking to remove the block, Reports Without Borders denounces the deteriorating situation of press freedom in Sudan, and asked the President al- Bashir to stop his campaign against local newspapers and opposition media.