Nouakchott - The military junta in Mauritania has adopted a new media law, scrapping previous requirements for newspapers to obtain government permits before publishing, according to reports on Thursday.
Government spokesperson Cheik Ould Ebb, cited by the official Agence Mauritanienne d'Information (AMI) news agency, said the new law "puts to an end the censorship system".
"The law aims at widening the scope of media freedom and fixes a legal system suitable for the journalism profession," said Ould Ebbe, adding that the new system would be "based on recommendations" of a media reform advisory commission created by the government.
As part of the media reforms, the transitional government announced in March that it would allow the creation of private radio and television stations before the end of its term early next year.
The reforms also provide for the review of media laws, which have regularly been denounced by independent bodies for giving the government too much freedom to censor, suspend or ban newspapers and other publications.
A national consultative commission on media reforms, comprised of journalists, heads of media houses and professional organisations, was put in place in December to come up with a media development programme.
The transitional junta in Mauritania, which came to power in a bloodless coup last year, has vowed to hasten the country's return to democracy through a series of elections following a constitutional referendum due this month culminating in presidential polls next year.
Former leader Ould Taya was deposed in August last year in a bloodless coup by a military junta headed by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall.
