Azerbaijan included in the list of countries where press freedoms have most deteriorated over the last five years

_ ETHIOPIA — A limited number of newspapers publish under intense self-censorship. In 2006, authorities banned eight newspapers, expelled two foreign reporters and blocked Web sites critical of the government.

_ GAMBIA — Eleven journalists were jailed in 2006. A leading newspaper was targeted by arsonists and closed by the government. An editor was murdered in 2004.

_ RUSSIA — A new law says "extremism" includes "public slander toward figures fulfilling state duties." The state has taken control of all three national television stations, and 11 journalists' murders remain unsolved.

_ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — Leaders of a press freedom group were forced into hiding in 2006 after nine attacks on journalists and 11 imprisonments.

_ CUBA — Twenty-nine journalists were imprisoned by the government in 2003. More than 20 remain imprisoned. Four foreign journalists were expelled after covering a 2005 opposition meeting.

_ PAKISTAN — Reporters who have interviewed Taliban figures are interrogated by government security agencies. Eight journalists have been killed and 15 abducted in the last five years.

_ EGYPT — There have been more than 90 prosecutions of journalists over the last 2 1/2 years. Al-Jazeera producer Howaida Taha was sentenced Wednesday to six months in jail.

_ AZERBAIJAN — An editor received death threats after investigating the murder of a fellow editor. Two journalists were kidnapped in 2006 and five were imprisoned.

_ MOROCCO — There has been an increase in civil defamation suits, with many rulings against journalists.

_ THAILAND — A military junta has ordered broadcast outlets to put out news prepared by the military, and blocked foreign programs that mention the overthrown prime minister. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/