By empty (2/10/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
More than 100 journalists and activists on Tuesday ended a seven-day hunger strike that had been undertaken to protest what they say is government pressure on the news media. Rauf Arifoglu, editor of the country\'s most prominent opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat, launched the hunger strike last Wednesday, demanding an end to lawsuits against his paper that he says have been organized by the government. By the time the organizers called off the strike, 102 people had joined the action, said Arif Aliev, head of the Baku press club.
More than 100 journalists and activists on Tuesday ended a seven-day hunger strike that had been undertaken to protest what they say is government pressure on the news media. Rauf Arifoglu, editor of the country\'s most prominent opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat, launched the hunger strike last Wednesday, demanding an end to lawsuits against his paper that he says have been organized by the government. By the time the organizers called off the strike, 102 people had joined the action, said Arif Aliev, head of the Baku press club. \"The participants in the action achieved their aim - bringing to public attention the problems of mass media,\" he said. Arifoglu has said 12 lawsuits have been filed against his newspaper. The plaintiffs are seeking a total of US$45 million, an amount far exceeding the paper\'s means, he said. (AP)