Group calls for probe into reporter’s death

REPORTERS Without Borders yesterday wrote to General Tommy Franks, the commander of the coalition forces operating in Iraq, to ask him to order an immediate inquiry into the exact circumstances of the death of British TV reporter Terry Lloyd of Independent Television News (ITN) and disappearance of French cameraman Frederic Nerac and Lebanese interpreter Hussein Othman on 22 March near Basra in southern Iraq.

Various sources have said they came under fire from coalition forces.

The British defence ministry said it has opened an inquiry into the death of Mr Lloyd, who was 51. A ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that he had no new details and did not want to comment on reports that Mr Lloyd and his colleagues were hit by friendly fire. Reporters Without Borders urged the British authorities to include the disappearances of Mr Nerac and Mr Othman in their enquiry.