Colombo, Jan 23: Sri Lankan journalists today protested attacks against them and the unofficial censorship imposed by the government as the island nation was regarded the most dangerous place for reporters in Asia after Pakistan. Dozens of media personnel carried placards and staged a peaceful rally (march) outside the Colombo fort railway station where anti-riot squads and heavily armed troops were deployed.

"Hands off journalists," said a banner carried by a reporter. "Report card 2006-2007: eight journalists killed," said another placard.

A spokesman for the protestors said the government was enforcing an unofficial censorship on the media personnel.

In its 2006 review, the Paris-based media watch dog, Reporters without Borders, said the fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels was having a major fallout on the freedom of the media in the island nation.

"The dormant war between security forces and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) has had harmful consequences for the safety of journalists, particularly Tamils," it said.

Journalists from the majority Sinhalese community too have been either killed, beaten or intimidated for their coverage of the conflict.

"Murders, arrests, threats and bombings have again become the daily lot for many reporters, particularly in the north and east of the country," it added.

There is no official censorship in the country, but a newspaper here recently said its defence columnist was under pressure to follow self-censorship.

Media organisations have described Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places for journalists in South Asia next to Pakistan where more journalists have been killed.