Thirty out of 53 African countries have no press freedom whatsoever, according to a speaker at the World Congress of International Press Institute that began Sunday in Nairobi, said dpa. IPI director Johann Fritz said, "With 30 (out of 53) states having no press freedom at all, Africa represents 42 per cent of the world's countries without any right to freedom of expression, dpa reported." The congress, which is due to last until Tuesday, is being attended by 400 delegates from media organizations throughout the world. Fritz added: "Censorship, closure of media, attacks on journalists and even killings, harassment, threats, imprisonment are elements of silencing independent journalism in Africa." In his opening address, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki praised, "the total freedom of expression and freedom of media ... without any interference from the (Kenya) government". --More 2223 Local Time 1923 GMT
