"We are seriously concerned that, after nine years, the failure to bring Mr Zongo’s murderers to justice only increases the appearance of political influence in the judicial process and adds to suspicions that the killers have, in effect, been granted impunity," said a letter from WAN and WEF to Blaise Compaore, President of Burkina Faso, and to the European Union Commissioner of External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The EU funds numerous development projects in the country.

"We respectfully call on you to ensure that the political protection apparently being afforded to Mr Zongo’s murderers is removed and that a thorough and impartial investigation is carried out. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that the killers and all those who have protected them are swiftly brought to justice," the letter said.

Mr Zongo, a reporter of the weekly L’Indépendant, was killed on 13 December 1998. He was investigating the death of David Ouédraogo, who was killed by members of the Presidential Security Regiment after being arrested on suspicion of stealing from his employer, François Compaore, the brother of the president.

The letters said:

"On the ninth anniversary of the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo, we are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the continued failure of the police and courts to bring his killer to justice.

"Mr Zongo was an investigative journalist and editor of the weekly L’Indépendant. His charred body was found in his car on 13 December 1998. At the time of his death he had been investigating the circumstances in which David Ouédraogo, the chauffeur of your brother François, died at the hands of members of the Presidential Security Regiment after being arrested on suspicion of stealing from his employer.

"We are seriously concerned that, after nine years, the failure to bring Mr Zongo’s murderer to justice only increases the appearance of political influence in the judicial process and adds to suspicions that the killer has, in effect, been granted impunity.

"We respectfully call on you to ensure that the political protection apparently being afforded to Mr Zongo’s murderer is removed and that a thorough and impartial investigation is carried out. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that the killer and all those who have protected him are swiftly brought to justice."

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom and the professional and business interests of newspapers world-wide. Representing 18,000 newspapers, its membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups.

The WEF is the organisation for editors within the World Association of Newspapers (www.worldeditorsforum.org).

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr.