The News Review:

- Member of parliament questioned over editor’s death; reporters'…
- US backs Nigeria over Taylor
- Editor of “For Di People” newspaper dies following assault
- Maryland Mom Uses Her Computer Expertise To Catch A Thief
- From Economist.com

Member of parliament questioned over editor’s death; reporters'…
IFEX – May 16, 2005
On 1 August 2005, Hassan, an MP of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP), was asked to write a statement concerning the circumstances surrounding the assault. According to MFWA’s Sierra Leone source, the Law Officers Act of 1965, Section 2, Subsection 9 requires the police to inform the attorney general before inviting for questioning a parliamentarian, diplomat, local government councillor or legal practitioner alleged to have committed an offence punishable with imprisonment. The source said Hassan went through this procedure and was granted police bail after writing down the statement. In a separate development, MFWA reports that members of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union have resolved to place a media blackout on Vice-President Solomon Berewa, Parliament and the police. The union said there would be no media coverage of the authorities mentioned until the editor’s death is properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to book…
On 1 August 2005, Hassan, an MP of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP), was asked to write a statement concerning the circumstances surrounding the assault. According to MFWA’s Sierra Leone source, the Law Officers Act of 1965, Section 2, Subsection 9 requires the police to inform the attorney general before inviting for questioning a parliamentarian, diplomat, local government councillor or legal practitioner alleged to have committed an offence punishable with imprisonment. The source said Hassan went through this procedure and was granted police bail after writing down the statement. In a separate development, MFWA reports that members of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union have resolved to place a media blackout on Vice-President Solomon Berewa, Parliament and the police. The union said there would be no media coverage of the authorities mentioned until the editor’s death is properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to book. After an urgent meeting on 2 August, union members resolved unanimously to carry out the threat to serve as a warning to police to put an end to impunity as regards attacks against journalists in the country.

US backs Nigeria over Taylor
Legalbrief – Legalbrief (subscription) – May 16, 2005
Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he should not be asked to be unfaithful to the commitment he made to provide asylum to former Liberian President Charles Taylor in 2003 in a successful effort to end the civil in that west African nation, says an AllAfrica. Ultimately, Charles Taylor will face justice, but for the moment the agreement that was made must be respected, Powell said. The tribunal issued a 17-point indictment two years ago accusing Taylor of supporting war crimes committed by rebel forces against civilians during Sierra Leone’s bloody conflict in the 1990s.

Editor of “For Di People” newspaper dies following assault
IFEX – May 16, 2005
The journalist died of kidney problems apparently caused by an assault he suffered on 10 May. In a letter that Yansaneh sent before his death to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), he explicitly accused Member of Parliament Fatmata Hassan of ordering the 10 May attack. According to Yansaneh, one of Hassan’s sons threatened him and vandalised the “For Di People” office, of which Hassan is reportedly the landlady, in the early evening of 10 May. When the editor was on his way to the police station to make an official complaint about the incident, he was set upon by a group including Hassan’s two sons, Bai Bureh and Mohamed Komeh. Yansaneh also accused Hassan herself of being present when Bureh sat on his neck and threatened to kill him. The journalist made a statement to the police, who issued a medical report and took photographs of his injuries.

Maryland Mom Uses Her Computer Expertise To Catch A Thief
InformationWeek – May 16, 2005
Todd, who is an IT specialist at the U. Census Bureau, tracked the stolen items to a Maryland sports memorabilia dealer, who said when he bought the items from a Sierra Leone national, he didn’t know they were stolen. The burglar was arrested earlier this month and has been languishing in jail. As for Karen Todd, she is getting her stolen items returned and a $100 Best Buy gift certificate to boot, to be presented by the Bowie police department to honor her public spirit and help in putting a burglar out of commission. The Bowie City Council is planning to honor her with a special commendation.

From Economist.com
economist.com – May 16, 2005
This strong leadership went down well. Even embarrassments such as Peter Mandelson and the Millennium Dome failed to cramp Mr Blair’s style. His attempts at peace-making in Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Northern Ireland also won him praise. But in 2000 Mr Blair lost his sure touch. Ken Livingstone, a symbol of the “loony left”, was elected London’s mayor against Mr Blair’s wishes. Embarassing leaks revealed a government obsessed by spin and presentation. The prime minister also mishandled a fuel crisis and inflamed rural opinion over foxhunting and foot-and-mouth disease.