Once feisty Algerian press grows tamer

Algiers: A campaign of murder failed to crush blossoming Algerian journalism in the 1990s, but now that civil war has been replaced by an uneasy peace, the country's press may have lost in liberty what it gained in security.

In a country where secular reporters have been shot dead, beheaded or had their throats slit, press freedom has in recent memory been a matter of life or death.

"Nowadays I can relax in a cafe," said newspaper editor Omar Belhouchet, who escaped an assassination attempt in 1993. That was not possible before.

But there seems to be less press freedom now.

Several reporters have been sentenced to prison for defamation in recent years: none have gone to jail and they remain at work, but the threat remains pending appeals.

Communication Minister Abderrachid Boukerzaza told a news conference in April: "Algeria is making permanent efforts to guarantee press freedom. If you look at the legal framework, you'll notice that all the legal conditions are there to promote and encourage press freedom."

But despite that framework, editors say press curbs are mounting and human rights groups criticise Algeria for resorting more frequently to legal action as a means to silence journalists who annoy its leaders.