Call for proper investigation into latest killings of two journalists by US soldiers

Reporters Without Borders today voiced "sadness and outrage" at the fatal shooting of two Iraqi journalists yesterday in Baghdad, which has brought the number of journalists killed by US troops since the start of the war in Iraq to six. The two latest victims were cameraman Ali Abdel-Aziz, who was killed instantly, and reporter Ali Al-Khatib, who died early today from his injuries at Baghdad's neurosurgical hospital. Both worked for the Dubai-based, pan-Arab TV news network Al-Arabiya. "All these killings are intolerable and tragic, and should force the US government to wonder about the attitude and behaviour of its troops towards the press, which is all the more suspect as nothing of this kind has occurred with the other military contingents in Iraq, including the British contingent controlling the south of the country," Reporters Without Borders said. The organisation pointed out that "no credible investigation" was conducted into the four previous killings of journalists in Iraq, those of Tarek Ayyoub, Taras Protsyuk, José Couso and Mazen Dana. This, combined with the Pentagon's refusal to acknowledge any responsibility in these deaths, had led to their repetition now. "Systematic exoneration in what are at the very least tragic errors encourages imprudent, aggressive behaviour in some soldiers who readily absorb the position taken at the highest level in the US administration that they are not responsible because they are acting in legitimate self-defence," Reporters Without Borders said. "If this long series of tragedies is to be brought to an immediate end, a proper investigation has be carried out in order to shed light on what took place, establish who was responsible, and draw all the necessary conclusions," the organisation added. Al-Arabiya said Al-Khatib and Abdel-Aziz were hit by "American shots" near the Borj al-Hayat Hotel although there their vehicle was clearly marked "TV." Editor in chief Salah Najm said the network would request an investigation into their deaths. Baghdad bureau chief Mohammed Ibrahim said three other employees were present but were not hit. The TV crew was there because the Borj al-Hayat Hotel had just sustained a rocket attack. Abdel Aziz's brother, Haidar Abdel Aziz, said Al-Arabiya had been given permission to film by the US army. "Suddenly, a Volvo did not stop at the roadblock and the soldiers began to open fire," he said. "My brother and the journalist wanted to leave, they ran towards their car, and at the moment that it was starting up, an armoured vehicle fired on it." Ibrahim said yesterday that the the American soldiers fired at random. A US army spokesperson said last night that an Iraqi was killed as he tried to run a roadblock at the Borj al-Hayat Hotel. He was unable to say if the victim was a journalist. He said the soldiers fired several times but he did not know if anyone was injured in the incident. The news agency Agence France-Press said police, security guards and public were all very jittery yesterday in Baghdad, where several hotels in the city centre have been the target of attacks.