Malawi paper raided by soldiers

Reports from Malawi say soldiers raided the offices of the Daily Times newspaper, smashing television equipment and seizing an expensive digital camera.

The soldiers -- who had their faces covered -- demanded a diskette containing a report published by the paper alleging the rate of AIDS in the army was higher than in the civilian population.

Earlier, the Defence Minister, Joseph Kubwalo, criticised Malawian journalists for reporting the AIDS problem in the army, saying they should check their facts.

The report about AIDS in the army was published in the Daily Times -- which is owned by the main opposition Malawi Congress Party -- and in two other newspapers earlier in the week.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service