71.   A leading media watchdog group sent a letter Tuesday to Nigerian leader Gen. Sani Abacha, condemning a series of physical attacks and judicial cases against Nigerian journalists.

72.   A Paris-based media watchdog group, Reporters Without Borders, has also called for the release of the three men.

73.   A French media watchdog group on Friday urged Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to use his influence so that an Albanian-language daily in Kosovo can resume publication.

74.   A Paris-based media watchdog group has asked the Sri Lankan government to investigate assaults on two reporters who apparently angered authorities.

75.   A Turkish media group traveling in the Mardin province was reportedly blocked by police.

76.   A U.S.-based media aid group on Friday protested government efforts to confiscate and censor a pro-Kurdish newspaper.

77.   Aliev also promised to provide long-term loans to media groups, though it was unclear what the conditions for the loans would be.

78.   Algerian media groups announced a three-day strike starting Tuesday to protest the arrest.

79.   An international media rights group said Monday that a Sri Lankan journalist was being harassed by a group of unidentified people.

80.   An independent media watchdog group has condemned plans for tough new laws to stop journalists reporting on secret national security matters, such as spy operations.