Eritrea's government has dismissed complaints about its treatment of a journalist authorities have kept in jail for most of the past four years.
An international media advocacy group condemned the government after confirming that Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaac was put back in prison last month just two days after being released.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said Mr. Dawit's arrest shows Eritrea's disregard for human rights.
But in Asmara today, Information Minister Ali Abdu said the matter is none of the group's business. The minister has reportedly said that Mr. Dawit was only released temporarily to get a medical check-up.
The journalist was initially arrested in September 2001 in a government crackdown on the press. The Committee to Protect Journalists says he is one of 15 Eritrean journalists held without trial or forced into military service since the crackdown began.
An international media advocacy group condemned the government after confirming that Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaac was put back in prison last month just two days after being released.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said Mr. Dawit's arrest shows Eritrea's disregard for human rights.
But in Asmara today, Information Minister Ali Abdu said the matter is none of the group's business. The minister has reportedly said that Mr. Dawit was only released temporarily to get a medical check-up.
The journalist was initially arrested in September 2001 in a government crackdown on the press. The Committee to Protect Journalists says he is one of 15 Eritrean journalists held without trial or forced into military service since the crackdown began.
