Topping the news this morning is the release of Iraqi cameraman Ali Al-Mashhadani, who had been held by US forces without charge for three weeks in Iraq. Reuters is reporting that Al-Mashhadani was released early Thursday after being held “because he has been assessed to be a threat to the security of Iraq and coalition forces,” according to the US military. Agence-France Presse and Dow Jones are also covering his release. This is the third time that he has been held without charge by the US military in Iraq, and CPJ has petitioned for his release in each instance.
Also in the news today, Voice of America has a long report about the difficulties facing independent journalists in Senegal and The Gambia.