Four New York Times journalists missing in eastern Libya

Four New York Times journalists missing in eastern Libya

2011-03-17 07:56:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Four New York Times journalists were reported missing in eastern Libya on Wednesday, the newspaper said. They were covering the ongoing fighting between anti- and pro-government forces.

The journalists, all experienced at war coverage, were last in contact with their editors on Tuesday morning U.S. time as they witnessed the flight of rebels from the town of Ajdabiya. There were second-hand reports of Times journalists being swept up by advancing Libyan government forces, but in the disorder of the embattled eastern region this could not be confirmed, the paper said.

"We have talked with officials of the Libyan government in Tripoli, and they tell us they are attempting to ascertain the whereabouts of our journalists," said Bill Keller, the executive editor of The Times. "We are grateful to the Libyan government for their assurance that if our journalists were captured they would be released promptly and unharmed."

The missing journalists are Anthony Shadid, the Beirut bureau chief and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for foreign reporting; Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer who was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2009 and rescued by British commandos; and two photographers, Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario, who have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa.

"Their families and their colleagues at The Times are anxiously seeking information about their situation, and praying that they are safe," Keller added.

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