Journalist murdered in Mosul, another found dead in Baghdad

Reporters Without Borders expressed its horror at the murder of freelance journalist Khoudr Younes al-Obaidi, shot dead as he returned to his home in Mosul, northern Iraq, on 12 January 2007. The killing comes eight days after the discovery of the body in Baghdad of Ahmed Hadi Naji, 28, an occasional cameraman for the Associated Press, who went missing on 30 December 2006. These two deaths bring to 141 the number of journalists and media assistants killed in Iraq since the US invasion in March 2003. “We send our condolences to the families of Khoudr Younes al-Obaidi and of Ahmed Hadi Naji, whose death brings a sad start to the profession for 2007,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “We have unfortunately reason to fear that in the context of war and complete impunity, Iraq will remain the world's most dangerous country for the press in the months to come. We once again urge the Iraqi authorities to do their utmost to shed light on these murders, without which the persisting impunity will lead to continued carnage.” Armed men opened fire on Khoudr Younes al-Obaidi in the evening of 12 January as he returned to his home in Mosul, police said. The journalist, who was as a stringer for several titles, worked mostly for Al-Diwan, the press organ of local tribes. No motive for the killing has yet been found. Ahmed Hadi Naji's body was found in a morgue of the Iraqi capital on 5 January with a single bullet wound to the head. He had disappeared on 30 December on his way to the offices of the Associated Press who employed him as a messenger and occasional cameraman. He was father to twins aged four months. The reasons for his killing also remain unclear.