Concern about fate of editor kidnapped on 25 December in Baghdad

Reporters Without Borders voiced deep concern today about the fate of Samir Ali Saud, the deputy editor of the weekly Sada Baghdad, who was kidnapped outside his home in the Baghdad district of Zawina on 25 December. “Eleven days have gone by without any sign of life from this journalist,” the press freedom organisation said. “Urgent action is needed from the Iraqi authorities, who must do everything possible to find him quickly, before it is too late.” Aged 42, Saud recently moved home after receiving anonymous phone calls and threatening letters. Reporters Without Borders has learned that one of his brothers was kidnapped in November and was subsequently released after a sizable ransom was paid. At least 20 journalists were kidnapped in Iraq in 2006, more than in any other country in the world. Seven of them were killed. There is still no news of journalist Reem Zeid and her colleague Marwan Khazaal of Sumariya TV, who were kidnapped on 1 February as they left a news conference at the headquarters of the Iraqi Islamic Party in the west Baghdad district of Yarmouk. US army frees Reuters journalist Reporters Without Borders has learned that Omar Al-Douleimi, a journalist working for the British news agency Reuters, was released on 25 December. US soldiers arrested him at his home in Ramadi (110 km west of Baghdad) on 19 December for reasons that are still not known. They also confiscated his journalistic material.