Health of hunger-striking Azerbaijani opposition editor deteriorates

"Doctors who examined Ganimat Zahidov reported that his health is in a critical condition and advised him to suspend the hunger strike, but he refused," said Popular Front spokesman Isak Avazogly.

Zahidov is the editor of an opposition newspaper threatened with eviction from its offices.

The 9,000-circulation Azadliq - Azerbaijan's most popular opposition paper - has been warned it will have to leave the premises after a government property committee demanded thousands of dollars (euros) in back rent for its editorial offices.

The Popular Front, which has offices in the same building, also faces eviction.

The independent media has suffered frequent harassment in the oil-rich Caspian Sea state, which has been run by President Ilham Aliev since 2003, when he succeeded his long-ruling father in flawed elections.

Another four opposition journalists later joined Zahidov on his hunger-strike, Avazogly said. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/