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API (African Press International Website) ^ | 10-20-2008 | API

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Important Update: US Law firm enters into agreement to represent API in The Michelle Obama tapes to be released soon in the US Posted by africanpress on October 20, 2008

The touchy interview tapes of Michelle Obama, the wife of the US Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is soon ready for release in the US and will be aired unedited.

The release has taken long due to the fact that API wanted to clear all legal hurdles and be safe from getting sued by any one. API and a US Law firm - LAW OFFICES OF PHILIP J. BERG has just entered into an agreement giving the law firm the right to represent API in all matters that may arise due to the Michelle Obama interview and the release of the tapes in the US.

API has realised that the interview with Mrs Obama is of great significance in the coming elections. The release of the tapes is not intended to derail the elections or to destroy the chances that Mr Obama may have in getting elected the first black president of the United States.

For us in API we wanted to get the tapes released - aired by a news channel that has a good reputation in the US, one that has listeners interested in the elections.

Many networks have contacted us and due to the fact that we in API do not know them from before, it took time to go through all requests from the networks that took contact with us and to choose one that will air the tapes unedited.

API is not interested in selling the tapes to any network. Our demand is that the tapes must be aired unedited by the network that we finally select.

While doing the selection, we have landed into a problem with some networks who have taken upon themselves to inform the readers that they have already got an agreement to air the tapes.

So far, no network has been selected and yet we have received signed agreements by three networks claiming to have been finally given the go ahead to release the tapes.

One kind reader has helped us a great deal by forwarding one email that has been circulated in the US about a deal. We want to state categorically that we are not asking any one for money in exchange for airing the tapes.

After reading the email below, we were very shocked at the turn of events:

———- Original Message —–

From: Ed Hale

To: William Bower

Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 7:17 PM

Subject: Audio Tape

Hi Will: I have been in contact with the African Press International, who ran the Michelle Obama story. I have talked to them about releasing the audio tape they have of her. It would appear that this is going to happen. The format will be, I will bring the reporter on and let them tell us how they obtained the tape, and then I will run the audio tape, and bring the reporter back on to verify that it is the real thing. Once I have this done, I will place it on my web site, file for and get a copyright on it. Once I have this done, I will contact you with the link. What I would like for you, since you live in Washington DC, to do is contact CNN, Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC and MSNBC. Let them listen to the audio tape. I will then take bid on this tape. The starting bid will be 2 million dollars. Once you have received the high bid, we will break the money down this way, 45% to Bar H Farms Inc, parent copy of Plains Radio network, 45% to African Press International and 10% for yourself. If you can do this, please call me at 806-447-0010 . Thanks Ed

It is true that we have been in contact with many news groups because they have contacted us. The email above is talking about money and is send to someone who was kind enough to forward it and alert us us on how we were being potrayed as a news organization that wants to cash in 45% of 2 million dollars.

API wants the readers to know that we are for the truth and such email being circulated in the US makes us look bad. This serves to further delay the release of the tapes because we do not know who we can trust to air the tapes unedited and without cashing in on them.

The same group of people we thought we could trust have gone ahead and signed unilateral agreements binding them and API, agreements stating that API surrenders all the rights to the tapes to them and that the tapes will belong to them and they are the one to decide who should listen to the tapes on cost. This is against API’s principles.

Now that we have an agreement for representation with a US law firm, we think things will move faster in the direction of releasing the tapes. The Law firm will help us get out of the unilateral agreements not signed by us.

We ask the readers to bear with us. We owe you the truth and the tapes being released.

Published by The Chief Editor/ African Press International

[TexasNative2000]

Wake me up when this gets sorted out..........