Algerian journalist jailed for defaming president

ALGIERS - An Algerian court has sentenced a journalist to one year in jail for defaming President Abdelazi Bouteflika, in the latest libel case brought by authorities against the independent media.

Farid Alilat, ex-editor of national daily Liberte, was sentenced over one editorial and two articles. The court also fined leading cartoonist Ali Dilem 50,000 dinars ($977) and acquitted a columnist working for the paper in two other separate cases.

Columnist Mustapha Hamouche was acquitted but the daily must pay 250,000 dinars for the August and September 2003 columns, articles and cartoons.

The prosecutor had demanded a one-year jail term for each of the three journalists.

International human rights groups have condemned a recent spate of libel cases brought by authorities against journalists in the North African Arab country.

They have urged the government to uphold the freedom of the press in the country, which is emerging from more than a decade of Islamic-linked violence in which up to 200,000 people were killed.

But the government rejects accusation it is targeting the media, saying defamation cases brought by authorities had nothing to do with politics or press freedom.

Last week two journalists appealed jail sentences handed down for defaming Bouteflika.

"Alilat will appeal," defence lawyer Khaled Bourayou said.

- REUTERS