Burundi court rejects jailed journalists' appeal

An appeal court in Burundi has upheld the decision to jail four journalists who were arrested in October while reporting on a rebel attack in the north-west of the country.

Térence Mpozenzi, Agnès Ndirubusa, Egide Harerimana and Christine Kamikazi from an independent publication, Iwacu, were accused of "an attempt on the nation's security".

Friday's ruling means they are to serve the rest of their two-and-a-half-year jail terms.

Iwacu owner Antoine Kaburahe told the BBC the ruling has come as a shock:

"We hoped they would be freed on appeal because they were arrested while exercising their profession - there are no real charges against them."

He told the BBC's Great Lakes service that Iwacu will take their challenge to the Supreme Court.

"Some tell us that ‘we are wasting time because they won’t be released’, but we will go to all courts seeking justice for them," Mr Kaburahe said.