Security agents of the SPLM-Juba faction loyal to Salva Kiir raided the distribution centre that handles several leading national newspapers, seizing copies of the Nation Mirror and threatening to close it down, reporters and management said Tuesday.

Wol Atak, Editor in Chief of the Nation Mirror, said that his paper was seized at dawn by government agents apparently for printing a picture of SPLM-In Opposition leader Riek Machar on the front page of its Tuesday edition.

“2500 copies of the paper were seized at 6:00 am today," Atak said. "I went to them and they said we carried in our front page the picture of Riek Machar, which gives him prominence over the president."

"They have threatened to close down completely the paper, which is a clear breach of press freedom," he said. “There was nothing wrong we did."

Atak said all copies were seized and he is not sure whether they will be allowed to return to circulation tomorrow as they remain closed. However, he said there are indications they will be able to continue printing.

Atak said the confiscation of the paper represents a huge financial loss to his organization since it still must pay for printing and other administrative costs.

Nhial Bol Aken, Editor in Chief of The Citizen newspaper, another independent daily, said the approach by the government agents goes against the transitional constitution that the government is supposed to protect and promote.

"We call on those who have done this to accept and respect the vital role that media play in circulating information and educating the members of the general public," Aken said. "Media are helping the government in the communication and dissemination of its policies and programs.”