By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 1 December 2014:
As reporting becomes increasingly difficult for journalists who have either fled the country, gone into . . .[restrict]hiding, or had to flee violence, the Libyan government has urged journalists and media outlets to check all facts before reporting news in order to prevent the circulation of rumours that, it says, could be very damaging the country.
The government stressed that while freedom of expression remained a prerogative for all Libyans, those who report had a responsibility to adhere to “the highest moral and professional standards”. If news was misreported, the authorities said, the inaccurate information could lead to violence that could further rupture the already fractured country.
Media-generated rumours had a powerful influence over public opinion, they added, and could lead Libyans to mistrust their leaders, thus hampering efforts by the government to bring Libya to a place of security and stability, particularly through what it called “its war on terrorism”. [/restrict]
