Paris, December 6 - UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura has expressed indignation at news of the assassination, on Monday, of Haitian journalist, Brignol Lindor, news director of Radio Eco 2000.

Mr Matsuura declared: "The murder of Brignol Lindor, in horrific circumstances, will cause indignation among all who believe in the democratic future of Haiti and all those who struggle for freedom of expression."

"I request the highest authorities of the country to make all resources available to investigators so that this heinous crime will not go unpunished", the Director-General added.

"A society that endeavours to heal the wounds of the past and build a democratic future needs all forums of expression and dialogue," Mr Matsuura concluded, extending his condolences to the late journalist's relatives and colleagues.

According to the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), 56 journalists have been assassinated around the world this year alone, 41 of them since the month of June. This toll is higher than last year's.