On Sunday night police in Belgrade prevented a daily newspaper, Dnevni Telegraf, from resuming publication after an 11-day ban and seized the paper's equipment. The police action came in the wake of a new media law which came into force last Wednesday, which contains clauses which journalists say sharply curtail the freedom of the press.

Editor Slavko Curuvija explains why the police raided him again

Police and tax inspectors stood watching as the Monday morning edition of Dnevni Telegraf began to roll off the printing presses. Then they moved in, stopping the presses and confiscating every copy of the newspaper.

The publication of three daily newspapers in Serbia, including Dnevni Telegraf, is currently suspended.

New media law An emergency decree restricting freedom of the press was passed by the Serbian government in the shadow of possible NATO air strikes but was abolished last Wednesday. In its place, however, a new press law came into force, making some of those temporary restrictions permanent.

Slavko Curuvija and his newspaper are the first victims of Article 42 of that law, which calls for the punishment of those who violate the constitutional order of the country.

A Belgrade court fined him nearly $250,000 last Friday for printing an open letter to the President in a weekly magazine which he also edits.