TV reporter Rafed Al Rubaii becomes 67th journalist killed since start of war

Reporters Without Borders said today it was appalled by the news of the death of Iraqi TV reporter Rafed Al Rubaii, who was covering a pro-Saddam demonstration in Diyala, east of Baghdad, on 27 August when a group of gunmen fired several shots in his direction before making off. A freelance contributor to the Iraqi TV station AL Irakiya, Rubaii died instantly. "This horrible death serves as yet another reminder that Iraq is the deadliest country in the world for journalists," the press freedom organisation said. "The security situation is so bad that gunmen can kill a journalist at any time of day and night." Reporters Without Borders added: "Killings like this are compounded by the often arbitrary arrests of journalists by the Iraqi authorities or the US army, as with Reuters TV cameraman Haider Kadhem, who was arrested on 28 August and is still being held by the US military." Rubaii is the 67th journalist or media assistant to be killed in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003. A total of 63 journalists were killed in the Vietnam war, which lasted from 1955 to 1975. Two other journalists are also missing in Iraq: ITV News cameraman Frédéric Nérac, missing since 22 March 2003, and Suedostmedia cameraman Isam Hadi Muhsin Al-Shumary, missing since 15 August 2004.