Independent Azerbaijan newspapers strike over arrest

More than twenty independent newspapers and other media organisations in Azerbaijan have halted publication in protest against the arrest of a prominent editor.

The unprecedented three-day strike, called yesterday Thursday, is in support of Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of the influential opposition daily Yeni Musavat.

Mr Arifoglu was arrested on Tuesday after a gun and documents were found at his home, which authorities allege link him to an attempted plane hijacking.

The papers say the detention is an attempt to muzzle the independent press ahead of parliamentary elections.

Azerbaijan¿s Prosecutor-General has denied this, saying the arrest only related to the hijack.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service