Call for British authorities to pursue investigation into Fred Nérac's disappearance

Reporters Without Borders today hailed the "remarkable work" of the British military police in locating part of the remains of Hussein Osman, a Lebanese interpreter working for the British television news company ITN who went missing in Iraq on 22 March 2003. But the organisation regretted that the British authorities, after a year of investigations, are still unable to provide any information about the fate of French cameraman Fred Nérac, who disappeared at the same time as Osman. Announcing yesterday that DNA tests had identified remains found in Iraq as those of Osman, ITN said the finding confirmed an Iraqi account that Nérac and Osman, who were travelling in the same vehicle, were detained and put in an Iraqi military pickup. The new information suggests that Osman was probably killed in the same fighting between US and Iraqi forces that also caused the death of British reporter Terry Lloyd, who was leading the ITN crew. Reporters Without Borders said it encouraged the British defence ministry "to use the same resolve and professionalism in pursuing this extensive investigation in order to also establish the truth about the fate of Fred Nérac, who is still missing." The organisation added: "We call on the French government to provide all necessary assistance to the British authorities, and we call on the US government to keep its promises to help clear up this distressing case. Such a commitment was reiterated just two weeks ago by President George W. Bush." During a working dinner in France on 5 June, President Bush assured French President Jacques Chirac of US "cooperation" in establishing exactly what happened. Background A four-member ITN crew seeking to cover the war in Iraq in an independent fashion set off in two vehicles on 22 March 2003 from Kuwait toward Basra in southern Iraq. On the way, the crew ran into a group of Iraqis and decided to turn back. Those in the second vehicle, Nérac and Osman, were probably stopped by the Iraqis, pulled from their vehicle, and put in an Iraqi pickup which had a machine-gun installed in the back. They were all then caught in the crossfire between Iraqi forces and a US marine unit. Lloyd, 51, who was in the first vehicle, was killed by gunfire coming from both sides, while Belgian cameraman Daniel Demoustier was wounded. Nérac and Osman were reported missing. While Osman's remains have now been located. Nérac's fate is still unknown.