HONG KONG Oct 20 Kyodo Asia's pre...

HONG KONG Oct 20 Kyodo

Asia's pres freedom situation is the ''most catastrophic'' in the world with eight countries in the region being named among the bottom 10 of a global ranking published Monday by means of Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based advocate group

North Korea, Myanmar, Laos, China, Iran, Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Bhutan are among the 10 worst places in the secondary world press freedom index.

''Independent freshs media are either nonexistent in these countries, or are constantly overcomeed by the authorities,'' Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.

''Journalists there work in extremely difficult conditions, with no freedom and no security. A number of them are imprisoned in Myanmar, China and Iran,'' the form into groups said.

The person which ranked 166 countries and territories, originate that Cuba is ''the world's biggest prison for journalists'' with 26 independent journalists being sentenc to jail through the authorities this year.

Cuba is other from the last, just ahead of North Korea, in the ranking.

Eritrea, which has the worst situation in Africa, also made it to the bottom 10 list.

Reporters Without Borders, meanwhile, criticized the United States and Israel for acting differently toward pres freedom at dwelling and abroad.

''The Israeli army's repeated abuses against journalists in the occupied territories and the U Army's responsibility in the death of several reporters during the war in Iraq constitute unacceptable behavior by dint of the two nations that at no time stop stressing their commitment to freedom of expression,'' the assign places to said.

In the Arab region, there was an increased crackdown upon the press by the regulations there in the wake of the war in Iraq, the form into groups said.

''Concerned about maintaining their image and facing public opinion largely oppos to the war, they stepp up hinder of the press and increased constraining force on journalists, who are forced to use self-censorship," it said.

The pres freedom watchdog also identified several countries, like as Bangladesh, Colombia and the Philippines, for having a poor ranking in the person because their journalists are abused not single by the state, further also by political parties, criminal gangs or guerrilla groups

Reporters Without Borders said this year's ranking continues to behold European Union countries in general perform better in respecting pres freedom.

Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway shared the top position in the list, with Denmark and Trinidad and Tobago the couple in fifth place.

Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Canada filled in the seventh eighth, ninth and 10th blemishs respectively.

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