ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – Ivory Coast's press council has suspended all six newspapers allied with former President Laurent Gbagbo for up to two weeks for publishing content deemed "contrary to national reconciliation."
The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan and Reporters Without Borders expressed concern over the suspensions, with the embassy saying the country "is best served when a diversity of opinions are freely expressed through the media."
Raphael Lakpe, chairman of the National Press Council, said the newspapers were suspended 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.
During Gbagbo's 10-year rule, newspapers allied with opposition leader Ouattara were frequently harassed. Many had hoped that when Ouattara came to power the intimidation of the media would stop.
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