Media Groups Urge Sudan To Release U.S. Reporter

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug. 27 -- Journalism watchdog groups on Sunday urged Sudan's government to release a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist who was arrested on charges of espionage and other crimes.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said it was "deeply troubled" by the arrest of Chicago Tribune reporter Paul Salopek this month and the charges brought against him Saturday.

"We view these charges as a grave threat to press freedom and call on the Sudanese authorities to see to it that they are dismissed and that our colleague is set free," said Joel Campagna, the group's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.

Salopek, his driver and interpreter, both Chadian, were arrested Aug. 6 by pro-government forces in the war-torn region of Darfur in western Sudan. Salopek, who lives in New Mexico, was working on a freelance assignment for National Geographic magazine about the culture and history of the Sahel region at the time of his arrest, said Chris Johns, the magazine's editor in chief.

"We're doing everything we can, including appealing to the Sudanese government, to have Paul released immediately," Johns said.

More than 200,000 people have died in Darfur since the conflict began in 2003. The United Nations and aid organizations have warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Darfur, saying violence has mounted since a peace agreement was signed in May by the Sudanese government and one of the region's major rebel groups.

Salopek, 44, is charged with espionage, passing information illegally, writing "false news" and a noncriminal immigration charge of entering the country without a visa. His driver and interpreter face the same charges. A judge in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has granted a defense motion to delay the trial until Sept. 10.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who is in Africa on a two-week tour of several countries, said Sunday the State Department had assured him that Salopek's case was a high priority.

"I expect the U.S. government to take this with the utmost seriousness," Obama said.

Sudanese officials were not available for comment Sunday. The U.S. Embassy in the capital, Khartoum, would not immediately comment.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders called the charges "ridiculous" and said Salopek was just trying to cover the "tragic situation" in Sudan.

"An objective media coverage in Sudan is needed so that the local authorities and the international community can effectively assess the situation and take appropriate actions to solve this human drama," the group said in a statement.

Ann Marie Lipinski, Chicago Tribune editor and senior vice president, has said Salopek is not a spy and urged the government to let him return home.