Yemen has come among the ten countries with the worst press freedom records in the third world, ranking after Sudan and Syria, two Arab countries which 2010 World Press Freedom Index said have consistent policies of repressing dissent.
The index, published by Reporters Without Borders, said Yemen dropped into the 170th among 178 countries in 2010, from the 167th place in 2009, because press freedom curtailed and arbitrary detentions and torture of journalists are continuing.
Yemen got 82.13 scores this year better than its scores in 2009, but sending it three places back, the index said.
Press freedom in the countries holding the index's lower rankings is continuing to deteriorate, because they are most repressive towards journalists and lack to effective media, the organization said.