Saturday, July 28, 2007


Jul. 28, 2007 (Xinhua News Agency delivered by Newstex) -- Tanzanian high court to hear ex-PM libel suit against media

DAR ES SALAAM, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The High Court of Tanzania has set September 17 as the date for hearing of a libel lawsuit filed by the country's former prime minister against a reporter, his editors and publishers.

Former prime minister Frederick Sumaye, who has just returned from a study tour of the United States, sued Tanzania Leo ( Tanzania Today) for allegedly reporting that he had stashed 1 billion Tanzanian shillings (800,000 U.S. dollars) in foreign banks and hinted that his money had come from corruption.

The former prime minister has asked for 20 billion shillings ( 16 million dollars) for reputation damages and a written apology to the public.

The tabloid published the sued story during Tanzania's 2005 election campaign.

The former prime minister said such a publication had caused him, members of his family and his friends both mental and physical stresses.

Frederick Sumaye served Tanzania as prime minister from 1995 to 2005.

Newstex ID: XIN-0001-18485982


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