Threats for journalists covering the Afghan elections

For those that don't know this week sees elections in Afghanistan

The spotlight will be on them even more with the deaths of Britih troops now having hit the 200 mark overnight.

Current President Hamid Karzai is seeking a second term.However for reporters who want to bring the news of the campaiign to a wider audience,there is much danger.

Reporters without Frontiers says that

The violence that threatens journalists working for Afghanistan’s news media has created a climate that does not favour free and impartial coverage of the 20 August crucial presidential election,

adding that

“One of the consequences of the failure to adopt the new press law has been unequal air-time for the candidates,” the press freedom organisation said. “Voters have also been denied independent coverage on national television throughout the campaign. Even if the monitoring carried out by the Electoral Media Commission is a big step forward, it is not enough. Journalists need laws that guarantee their safety and freedom, at least in principle.”