Burkina Zongo murder suspect free

The killing prompted big protests in Burkina Faso

A judge in Burkina Faso has dismissed charges against the only suspect in the case of slain journalist Norbert Zongo.

International press freedom groups have expressed outrage at the announcement.

Suspect Marcel Kafando was head of the presidential guard, and has been convicted of a murder that Mr Zongo was investigating at the time of his death.

Mr Zongo and three others were found killed in 1998. In 2000, Mr Kafando was convicted of murdering the chauffeur of President Blaise Compaore's brother.

Mr Zongo, the editor of weekly magazine L'Independent, was investigating the chauffeur's murder shortly before his own death in 1998.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said the dropping of charges would set a dangerous precedent.

"It is outrageous that no-one has been brought to justice for this heinous crime," Julia Crawford of the CPJ said in a statement.