ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Ivory Coast's press council has lifted suspensions at least temporarily on all six newspapers allied with former President Laurent Gbagbo after the shutdown drew international criticism.
The newspapers were suspended last week for publishing photos of officials whom Gbagbo tried to name to his Cabinet after he lost the November 2010 election to current President Alassane Ouattara. The photos listed the officials' Cabinet positions, which Ouattara voided after Gbagbo was detained in April 2011.
The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan and Reporters Without Borders swiftly spoke out against the suspensions.
Raphael Lakpe, chairman of the National Press Council, said the suspensions were lifted partly at the behest of the country's truth commission. He added that the suspensions could be reinstated if the papers published further content the council found objectionable. 20120919 AP
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