Yu's physical and psychological state demonstrates the full atrocity of the Chinese prison system, which destroys lives to gag dissident voices.

Any prison sentence for an offence of opinion is unacceptable, even in cases of insult or defamation.

The judicial authorities are imposing a grim ordeal on three journalists under pressure from the governor of an unstable state. The Nigerian press is still in the grip of harsh legislation, a brutal police force and authoritarian governors. On this New Year's Eve, we call for their release and we reiterate our commitment to the independent press and, in particular, to the three Port Harcourt prisoners who are exposed to dangerous challenges.

We are very concerned at where this crackdown could lead, because it is gaining pace in the run-up to the Spring festivities.

This murder once again shows that journalists pay a very high price to report in Iraq. It is absolutely appalling that insurgents use this kind of barbaric violence against people whose job is just to observe and report, and who just carry a notebook and pen.

We fear this 'obstruction of justice' procedure is a judicial device for the government to yet again settle some scores with the privately-owned media and at the same time subject them to state censorship.