Public reaction to the arrests has been muted

Three other journalists have reported that security officers have visited their homes while they were out and they expect to be arrested shortly.

Some of those journalists who have not yet been picked up have been making last minute financial arrangements for their families in case they are detained.

No official confirmation

There has been no official confirmation of the reported detentions.

Presidential Adviser Yemane Gebremeskel said he did not know personally about the arrests but he said it was probably a result of them not having permission to be away from national service.

The next generation of journalists may have second thoughts

However one of those detained, photographer Seyoum Fsehaye, is an independence war veteran and so is exempt from national service.

Some of the journalists who said they expect to be arrested are also former liberation fighters.

The editor of Tsegenay, Yusuf Mohammed Ali, has been excused national service because he was too old.

Identity checks

All the others detained have said they had the right paperwork.

Mr Yemane denied that it was unusual that all were picked up at their homes early in the morning, instead of being caught during one of the regular identity checks for those absent from the army without leave.

In fact, they had all been working quite publicly throughout Eritrea.

Journalists have been detained in Eritrea before and again national service violations were cited but in most cases the journalists were released when it was clear that they had permission.

The situation this time is different, not least because the private press has been completely closed, but also because of recent reports that two journalists, including the editor in chief of Keste Debna, Milkias Mehretab, have escaped to Sudan fearing arrest,