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afrol.com, 24 August - The international attention on Liberia is increasing on the matter of the four journalists detained in Monrovia. Today, South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma today dispatched a diplomatic note to her Liberian counterpart, Minister Minikon, regarding the detention of South African cameraman Gugu Radebe and three other Channel Four journalists. In the diplomatic note, the Minister called on her counterpart to ensure that international norms are met, regarding the welfare of the detainees and their access to legal representation of their choice. On the other hand, Minister Dlamini-Zuma also decided to dispatch South Africa's Ambassador to the Organisation of African Unity, Kingsley Mamabolo, to Monrovia to establish the critical link between the Ministry in Pretoria and Liberian authorities, as well as to monitor the welfare of Radebe and three others. The television team of Insight News, which is part of Britain's Channel Four network, was arrested on August 18 and charged in Monrovia yesterday with espionage. The TV crew of David Barrie and Timothy Lamben from the United Kingdom accompanied by Sorious Samura, a film-maker from Sierra Leone and a South African colleague Gugulakhe face jail for up to ten years if found guilty. On 22 August, the television team was accused of espionage against Liberia by the Monrovia municipal court. Meanwhile, the Director of the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Sipho Pityana today met Radebe's wife and family to brief them about government's steps to address the situation. On the other side of the Atlantic, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today sent a letter to Liberia President Charles Taylor urging the release of four international journalists being detained on espionage charges. The text of the letter follows: "I am deeply concerned that formal charges have been brought against four television journalists working on assignment for CNN and Britain's Channel Four and want to add my voice to those of African leaders calling for the reporters' release. Their detention will only bring further international scrutiny on Liberia's commitment to basic human rights. If you proceed with a trial, I urge you to uphold the defendants' right to due process by law and allow them representation by an attorney and access to the evidence against them."
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