Alastair Macdonald

U.S. Military Admits It Killed Reuters Journalist, Calls It 'Appropriate'

Alastair Macdonald — 2005-09-02T04:54:00Z

The U.S. military confirmed on Thursday that its soldiers killed a Reuters journalist in Iraq but said their action was "appropriate".

Describing Sunday's incident, when television soundman Waleed Khaled was killed by multiple shots, Major General Rick Lynch said: "That car approached at a high rate of speed and then conducted activity that in itself was suspicious. There were individuals hanging outside with what looked to be a weapon.

"It stopped and immediately put itself in reverse. Again suspicious activity. Our soldiers on the scene used established rules of engagement and all the training received ... decided that it was appropriate to engage that particular car.

"And as a result of that the driver was indeed killed and the passenger was hurt by shards of glass."

Reuters cameraman Haider Kadhem, 24, like Waleed an Iraqi, was slightly wounded by flying fragments but survived in the passenger seat of the car, only to be detained for the next three days by U.S. troops. Kadhem was using a small video camera. (...)

Reuters cameraman held indefinitely, another freed

Alastair Macdonald — 2005-09-01T03:40:00Z

BAGHDAD, Aug 31 (Reuters) - A cameraman for Reuters in Iraq has been ordered by a secret tribunal to be held without charge in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison until his case is reviewed within six months, a U.S. military spokesman said on Wednesday.

But another Reuters cameraman was released after being held for three days by U.S. troops following an incident in which his soundman was shot dead, apparently by American soldiers.

Ali Omar Abrahem al-Mashhadani was arrested by U.S. forces on Aug. 8 after a search of his home in the city of Ramadi. The U.S. military has refused Reuters' requests to disclose why he is being held. He has not been charged. (...)

U.S. Rejects Media Concerns about Iraq Detentions

Alastair Macdonald — 2005-08-27T03:20:00Z

Additional reporting by Timothy Heritage in Paris, Andrew Marshall in London, and Philip Pullella in Rome

BAGHDAD, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. military rejected on Thursday concerns aired by Reuters and other media organisations in Iraq about its detention of journalists, saying it would not consider the special nature of their work in reporting conflict.

International media rights groups have joined Reuters in seeking an urgent explanation for the arrest of a cameraman working for the news agency, who has been held incommunicado for more than two weeks and is now in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and cabinet spokesman Laith Kubba said the government would look into the matter. (...)

- / MediaChannel.org