IFJ condemns killing of 2 journalists in Syria

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Wednesday condemned the shelling in the Syrian city of Homs which killed American journalist Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik. "This is a terrible loss for the journalists' families, their colleagues and the entire journalists' community," said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. "The killing of these journalists, including Colvin who was a highly respected war reporter, shows the indiscriminate attacks make it unsafe for journalists to report from the city, at a time when the world desperately needs information on the Syrian crisis." Colvin, a Sunday Times reporter, and French photographer Remi Ochlik were among the few Western journalists who were reporting from Homs, a stronghold of the Syrian opposition where the Syrian army is battling rebel forces fighting to overthrow President Bachar el-Assad. "The situation in Homs is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists and we are concerned by its impact on independent reporting on the conflict," added Boumelha. "We will hold the authorities to their international obligations to protect journalists who are in Homs and other Syrian cities," he adde