Two journalists killed in Falluja, one wounded in Najaf

Iraqi freelance photographer Hossam Ali was also killed in Falluja on 15 August in unclear circumstances. His body was found in the mosque where journalist Mahmud Hamid Abbas's body had been taken. It was not known if he was killed at the same time and place as Abbas. He was identified by the press badge he was wearing. Another Iraqi journalist, cameraman Isam Hadi Muhsin Al-Shumary, from the german TV network N24, was reported missing on 15 August near Falluja. _____________________________ 17.08.2004 - Journalist killed in Falluja, another wounded in Najaf Reporters Without Borders called today on the forces fighting in Iraq to respect the lives of journalists after the 15 August death in Falluja of freelance Iraqi newsman Mahmud Hamid Abbas, working for the German TV network ZDF. The British news agency Reuters also said one of its photographers, Ali Abu al-Shich, was wounded by gunfire in Najaf on 17 August. "This new death is another blow to media workers in Iraq, who have already had a very hard time," the worldwide press freedom organisation said, noting that Abbas was the 20th journalist killed there this year and the 34th since the fighting began in March last year. It stressed that journalists had the right to protection in war zones under the terms of the Geneva Conventions. Abbas, 32, married with three children, was killed on his way from his native Falluja to Baghdad. He had worked for ZDF as a freelance producer for about a year and a half. When he phoned the ZDF office in Baghdad to say he was coming he mentioned he had just filmed a house destroyed by US warplanes. About 25 minutes later, he rang again to say he had seen a second attack. During the call, he suddenly said he and others with him were being fired at. There was a dull thud, possibly an explosion, and the line was cut off, according to ZDF correspondent in Iraq. He was not far from the front line between the US and Iraqi rebel forces fighting in Falluja but there was no evidence he had been targeted by a missile, rocket or bomb fired by them. He may have been killed by criminals active in the area. His partly-burned body was identified by his brother among those of others killed with him or in other incidents. The bodies were in a mosque where they had been taken after being found on the road. Abbas' car was missing. A Reuters photographer, Iraqi Ali Abu al-Shish, received leg wounds in shooting between US troops and supporters of rebel Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf as he was taking pictures of a US armoured vehicle. He was taken to hospital and later discharged.