The Voice of Mirza Xazar

21 February 2005 President threatens legal action against opposition daily "MSN" SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris (RSF/IFEX) - On 18 February 2005, President Aksar Akayev told the government newspaper "Slovo Kyrgyzstana" that he intends to bring a libel action against the opposition daily "MSN" over an 8 February report listing all the news media which either he or his associates control. Akayev said he and his family were the victims of a "persecution campaign" by "MSN". He offered to withdraw the lawsuit if "MSN" published a retraction. For further information, contact Pascale Bonnamour at RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 67, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: europe@rsf.org, Internet: http://www.rsf.org The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.