A judge in Burkina Faso has dismissed charges against the only suspect in the case of slain journalist Norbert Zongo, and international press freedom groups have expressed outrage at the announcement, BBC Online reports Thursday.
Suspect Marcel Kafando was head of the presidential guard, and has been convicted of a murder that Mr Zongo was investigating at the time of his death. Mr Zongo and three others were found killed in 1998.
In 2000, Mr Kafando was convicted of murdering the chauffeur of President Blaise Compaores brother. Mr Zongo, the editor of weekly magazine LIndependent, was investigating the chauffeurs murder shortly before his own death in 1998.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said the dropping of charges would set a dangerous precedent. – It is outrageous that no-one has been brought to justice for this heinous crime, Julia Crawford of the CPJ said.
Burkina Faso er et af Danidas programsamarbejdslande og Danmark har sammen med andre donorer længe lagt pres på præsident Compaores regering for at finde Norbert Zongos morder. Disse bestræbelser har nu lidt nederlag.
Der har siden 1998 været forlydender om, at kredsen omkring præsidenten var indblandet i mordet på den kendte journalist.
