Harare: A New York Times correspondent who has been covering Zimbabwe's elections was among two foreign journalists arrested for operating without accreditation, police and the newspaper said. National police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said the pair had been picked up in a raid on the York Lodge yesterday, an upmarket guest house near the centre of the capital Harare, and were now being held in custody. "I can only confirm that we have arrested two foreign journalists at York Lodge," Bvudzijena told AFP.

"They are being investigated for practicing without accreditation. They were picked up early this evening and taken to police custody." New York Times executive editor Bill Keller confirmed its correspondent Barry Bearak, who won a Pulitzer prize in 2002 for his reporting war-torn Afghanistan, had been detained but did not know where he was being held.

"We do not know where he is being held, or what, if any, charges have been made against him," Keller said in a statement. "We are making every effort to ascertain his status, to assure that he is safe and being well treated, and to secure his prompt release." There were no lights on or any sign of activity at the guest house last evening, an AFP correspondent reported.

The owners did not answer the phone. Zimbabwean authorities, which barred most foreign media from covering last Saturday's general elections, warned a week ago they would deal severely with journalists who sneaked into the country and were caught operating illegally.

Source : PTI