Release for BBC journalists accused of spying

Cameroon has freed two BBC journalists who had been detained by the military for six days on suspicion of spying in the disputed, oil-rich Bakassi peninsula.

South African Farouk Chothia, a producer with the BBC’s African service, and Ange Ngu Thomas, a local reporter working for the BBC, have been released from house arrest in the the town of Limbe.

The BBC said the two were covering the upcoming Nigerian withdrawal from the peninsula and had been travelling with the knowledge of the Cameroon authorities.

They were detained by the military while working in the peninsula and were accused of spying.

Cameroon officials said the pair were detained after they were seen taking pictures of military installations.

Bakassi, a heavily-militarised, petroleum-rich peninsula, has been the subject of territorial battles between Cameroon and neighbouring Nigeria.

Nigeria is due to withdraw from the peninsula by September 15 under a 2002 ruling by the International Court of Justice.

Neither of the two journalists could be reached for comment today, but they were reported to be in good health.