Three journalists killed in US attacks

THREE journalists were killed and at least four were injured in three separate attacks in Baghdad

Allied commanders were forced to deny that journalists were being targeted in the wake of the attacks which occurred within a few hours yesterday morning.

The issue dominated the daily media briefing at the Allied Command Centre in Qatar when US spokesman Brigadier General Vince Brooks faced questions about the incidents.

In the first attack, cameraman Tareq Ayoub was killed in an airstrike on the al-Jazeera office in the city. The television station’s office was almost completely destroyed by two missiles and another cameraman was injured, the network said.

The nearby Abu Dhabi TV office was also targeted, the station reported.

A group of people was seen carrying a wounded man to a jeep belonging to Abu Dhabi TV. He was then rushed to hospital. Soon afterwards a US tank on a bridge over the Tigris river opened fire on the Palestine Hotel, where most foreign correspondents in Baghdad have been staying.

Four employees of the Reuters news agency were injured and one, TV cameraman Taras Protsyuk, a 35-year-old Ukrainian national based in Warsaw, later died.

Spanish cameraman Jose Couso, 37, a father-of-two, also died in hospital after being wounded at the hotel, his employer Telecinco said.

“We are devastated by the death of Taras, who had distinguished himself with his highly professional coverage in some of the most violent conflicts of the past decade,” said Reuters editor-in-chief Geert Linnebank.

Protsyuk leaves a widow Lidia and an eight-year-old son Denis.

Lebanese-born Samia Nakhoul and Iraqi photographer Faleh Kheiber were both treated for facial and head wounds and concussion after the attack, the agency said.

Television satellite dish co-ordinator Paul Pasquale, from Britain, was taken to hospital with leg injuries but doctors said he was not in danger.

US forces said the attack on the al-Jazeera office was a mistake.

Asked about the hotel attack, Gen Brooks said American troops had reported snipers shooting at them from the high-rise building on the eastern banks of the Tigris.

“Initial reports indicate that the coalition forces operating near the hotel took fire from the lobby of the hotel and returned fire. Any civilian loss of life we find most unfortunate,” he said.

The tank fired at the 14th floor of the hotel, not the lobby.

Sky News correspondent David Chater said he saw the tank on a bridge with its barrel pointed directly at the Palestine just before the explosion.

“They knew we were there ... there was absolutely no mistake,” Mr Chater said of the US forces.

But Gen Brooks suggested Iraqis had been using journalists as human shields.

“We believe that where it is possible to avoid the loss of civilian life every effort will be taken.

“There are a number of places in down town Baghdad where there are civilian populations at risk. We know that there are practices by this regime to increase that risk deliberately.”

Al-Jazeera television showed two people being carried on blankets through the hotel lobby before being put in cars.

One was soaked with blood. One of the people carrying the wounded could be heard screaming: “I need a car. I need a car.”

Reporters in bullet-proof vests were shown running down the corridors.

At least 11 journalists and media staff have died in the war so far. The International Federation of Journalists has accused both sides of endangering the lives of media staff covering the war.

Sarah de Jong, human rights officer for the Brussels-based organisation, said the death toll was unusually high.

The IFF estimates that between 3,000 and 4,000 journalists are covering the war in Iraq and neighbouring countries with around 660 “embedded” in front line units.

“We are very, very concerned, I think it is a fluid situation not only in Baghdad but everywhere else in Iraq where there are coalition troops and where there is still opposition from Iraqi soldiers or militia,” she said.