The following is a press release from the African Editors Forum:

The African Editors Forum, Global Media Alliance and NEPAD regret to announce that the historic and much awaited debate between a number of presidents and editors, which was to have taken place at the AU summit in Accra, Ghana at the weekend has been postponed.

Pressure of time, precipitated by the late arrival of some heads of state led to the postponement of AU programmes around the Peer Review of SA and Algeria scheduled for Saturday which were then moved to Sunday, the day on which the debate with editors was to take place.

After careful consideration of the situation, the organisers and the Ghanaian government agreed to call the debate off. The organisers are disappointed about this but remain committed to holding the debate at the next available opportunity at the next summit.

The organisers wish to thank the AU Commission and the presidents who had already agreed to take part for realising the importance of the interaction with the media.

Indeed the need for contact between media and the political leadership was underscored by the unpleasant treatment of journalists who were in Accra to cover the summit. Journalists were denied access to the conference despite having full accreditation and had to make do with watching erratic TV coverage in order to follow proceedings.

TAEF and its co-organisers will indicate a new date as soon as this is finalised. TAEF had brought about 30 editors to Accra to participate and witness the event.

For more information, contact:

Mathatha Tsedu - Taef Chairperson - MTsedu@citypress.co.za or (27) 82 454 0527 Souleymane Diallo - Taef Deputy Chairperson - diallosouleymane2001@yahoo.fr or (224) 41 23 85 / (224) 60 25 27 82