Call for immediate release of two French journalists missing in north

Reporters Without Borders is very worried about two French journalists, reporter Didier François and photographer Edouard Elias, who went missing yesterday in northern Syria. Their employer, French radio station Europe 1, said there has been no word from them since yesterday morning, when they were on the road to Aleppo. “We call for the immediate release of François and Elias, who are well-known for their professionalism,” Reporters Without Borders said. “They are just providing a service to the general public by covering the Syrian tragedy in an independent manner.” Reporters Without Borders continues to be very concerned about the fate of visiting foreign reporters, who are easily caught in the spiralling violence that began in March 2011. “Under no circumstances should journalists be targeted by the different parties to this conflict or used as bargaining chips,” Reporters Without Borders added. At least 24 professional journalists have been killed since the start of the conflict and, to our knowledge, seven have been kidnapped or reported missing.