Niger/France

Moussa Kaka denied bail

Article published on the 2008-08-20 Latest update 2008-08-20 10:32 TU

RFI correspondent, Moussa Kaka.
DR

Radio France International correspondent Moussa Kaka's bail demand has been rejected by Niger's Court of Appeal. The decision came after a senior judge ruled there was no case against Kaka earlier this month and ordered the charges to be dropped.

Kaka has been held since September 2007 on a charge of "complicity to undermine the security of the state" for alleged contact with Tuareg rebels.

President Mamadou Tandja's government refuses any dealings with the rebels of the Movement of Niger People for Justice (MNJ), which emerged in February last year in the Agadez region and which has since threatened uranium mining there.

Kaka was accused of having spoken to the rebels in phone calls which were monitored by the state. The Radio France International (RFI) journalist has since been the subject of a campaign to free him by human rights watchdogs and press freedom groups.

RFI was taken off the air in March by the Niger authorities for its support of their journalist, although broadcasts resumed last month.