Agence France-Presse . Geneva
Nearly 100 journalists were killed doing their job during 2008, a slight fall from the previous year due to security improvements in Iraq, a press rights group said Monday.
The Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign said in its annual report that 95 journalists were killed in 32 different countries in the past twelve months, down from a record 110 in 2007.
Iraq was still the most dangerous country in the world for reporters with 15 deaths, down from 50 in 2007.
‘Unfortunately, the situation deteriorated in other countries, which is a very worrying development,’ said PEC secretary general Blaise Lempen.
Mexico rose to second place in the ranking of unsafe countries. The country has seen a wave of drug-related violence and nine journalists lost their lives there this year, up from three in 2007.
Pakistan saw a marked deterioration in the unruly tribal zones near the border with Afghanistan. Eight journalists were killed there in 2008, up from five in 2007.
The PEC also expressed concern at the growing
numbers of journalists kidnapped while doing their work, especially in Afghanistan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Gaza and Mexico.
Courtesy: newagebd.com
