Two more reporters kidnapped in Baghdad

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the abduction of two Iraqi TV reporters on 1 February in Baghdad, which brings the number of journalists kidnapped there in less than a month to three. The lastest victims, Reem Zeid and her colleague, Marwan Khazaal, work for Sumariya TV, a local station. “Campaigning for the release of the two Iraqi journalists and American journalist Jill Carroll, kidnapped 26 days ago, is now of equal importance,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Iraqi journalists are continuing to pay a very high price for the freedom to inform in a country in which, as we constantly reiterate, the security situation in extremely bad.” The press freedom organisation added: “We are also very worried about the increase in attacks and kidnappings in which women journalists are the targets.” Zeid and Khazaal were heading back to their TV station from a news conference at the headquarters of the Iraqi Islamic Party in the west Baghdad district of Yarmouk at around noon when they stopped and taken away by four gunmen. Thirty-seven media workers have been abducted since the start of the war in Iraq in March 2003. Five of the kidnap victims - four Iraqis and an Italian (Enzo Baldoni) - were killed by their abductors. The others were all released safe and sound. Twenty-three of these kidnappings have taken place in or near Baghdad. Eight of these kidnap victims have been women. They include Carroll, who has been a held hostage since 7 January.