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04 May, 2007
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - The Ethiopian government on Thursday dismissed criticism of its record on press freedom, saying recent reports from rights watchdogs were based on unfounded allegations.
"We regret that these reports are not based on research but only on allegations. If they were based on research the Ethiopians would welcome them," said information ministry official Fantahun Asres.
Media rights groups Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) released separate reports this week in which Ethiopia was singled out for criticism.
Paris-based RSF said Addis Ababa was one of the "predators of press freedom" and the New York-based CPJ put Ethiopia at the top of a list of 10 countries where media rights had declined in the past five years.
Ethiopian Justice Minister Assefa Kesito said democracy was still in its infancy in the east African country.
"There is no doubt that freedom of expression should be allowed to all, but there are a lot of sectors we have to work on," he told a seminar here.