Semret Seyoum, a journalist who had been in detention since January 2002, was released from jail last week.

There has been no explanation offered for the release, nor was the case brought to court over the last twenty months.

Semret, a veteran EPLF fighter, was the deputy editor of Setit, a now-banned Eritrean private newspaper.   

The reporter had been in solitary confinement in the Western lowlands of Eritrea variously reported as either "Forto" or the "Hadish Measker" of Grmayka.  Semret was detained when a vehicle carrying the reporter and several others was trying to cross the Sudanese border.  Government officials opened fire on the vehicle and after wounding the passengers, captured and arrested them.  One reporter, Mr. Aaron Berhane, the editor of Setit, managed to escape.

In a related story, the city of Asmara is abuzz with unconfirmed reports that the government has brought back to Asmara nearly a dozen reporters who had been sent to undisclosed locations after they went on a hunger strike in March of last year.  

Meanwhile, Mr. Alula Unqibahri, a former reporter for Meqaleh newspaper, has been granted asylum in Germany.   Alula was a freelance writer as well as a teacher.