afrol News, 18 January - A court in the Niger has ordered the two French television journalists - Thomas Dandois and Pierre Cression - to be released on bail.

The journalists, who work for Franco-German channel, ARTE, were arrested on 17 December last year before being charged with "endangering state security."

They have been accused of conniving with Tuareg rebels and upon conviction, they could face the death penalty.

Two local journalists - Moussa Kaka, a correspondent for 'RFI' and 'Reporters sans frontières’ in Niger and Manzo Ibrahim Diallo, editor of the weekly 'Aïr Info' - have been held for talking to the banned Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) rebels.

The northern rebels have been fighting for the autonomy of the uranium-rich region.

The French journalists were arrested after they were accused of violating the terms of their accreditation agreement by taking films on rebel activities in the country.

Prosecutors faulted them for diverting their earlier request to seek permission to report on bird flu.

Paris-based Reporters sans frontières said the two would be freed from detention in Kollo, 20 km south of the capital Niamey before returning to France. However, each of them needs to obtain bail condition of €15,000.

In a statement, RSF greeted the development with great delight, describing it as "great news."

The press freedom organisation is now drumming up its campaign for the immediate release of al-Hassane Abdourahman, the driver of the French journalists. It will also intensify campaign for the release of Kaka and Diallo.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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