Yemen halts judicial measures against journalists

Yemeni press sources announced that the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh gave instructions to halt judicial measures taken during the past weeks against several Yemeni journalists and certain correspondents of the foreign media. The same sources said that the directive of the Yemeni President implies assertions to to journalists on the need not to publish stories that violates national unity and principles.

This measure, however, came on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of President Saleh assuming power in Yemen and after he had received a message from the chairman of the Yemeni Journalists Union saying that any measures taken against the press would defame the reputation of the country.

The sources did not indicate names of journalists and correspondents effected by the presidential directives.

This decision, however, came at a time, when the Reporters Sans Frontier organization called on the Yemeni authorities to halt measures aimed at minimizing the freedom of Journalists.