A precursor of things to come?

NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 2, 2006 (AP)— Heavily armed and masked police commandos smashed printing presses and seized transmission equipment Thursday in raids on Kenya's second-largest media company, while three reporters were charged with creating public alarm in what officials said was a national security case.

The pre-dawn police action brought condemnation from the international community and concern that Kenya's administration was becoming increasingly isolated amid multimillion-dollar corruption scandals and political intrigue.

"If you want to rattle a snake you must be prepared to be bitten by it," Internal Security Minister John Michuki said at a news conference, pointing his finger aggressively at journalists. His comments raised the specter of more attacks against the media and a return to the dark days of former leader Daniel arap Moi who used repressive tactics to silence critics.

Media in Kenya, which have reported aggressively on corruption scandals swirling around President Mwai Kibaki, were uncowed.

The Standard, which was targeted, managed to publish a special edition about the raids Thursday and its sister Kenya Television Network was back on the air in the afternoon, taking viewer calls on the issue.

Rival newspapers also published special lunchtime editions on the crackdown while other TV networks broadcast blanket coverage of it.

Several thousand Kenyans also marched on the offices of the Standard Group in central Nairobi in a defiant show of support.

"I think the raid came because the president is feeling threatened by all the criticism he is facing," bookseller Yasin Khan said.