Two Western journalists killed while covering conflict in Libya

[News_Editor]

Two Western journalists killed while covering conflict in Libya

2011-04-21 06:34:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

MISRATA, LIBYA (BNO NEWS) -- Two Western photojournalists were killed on Wednesday while covering the conflict in the Libyan city of Misrata, the agencies representing them confirmed.

Among those killed is photojournalist and director Tim Hetherington, 40, who was nominated for an Oscar earlier this year for his 2010 documentary 'Restrepo', which followed U.S. troops in Afghanistan. It was highly received by critics and also won the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

"It is with great sadness we learned that our son and brother, photographer and filmmaker Tim Hetherington, was killed today in Misrata, Libya by a rocket-propelled grenade," a statement from Hetherington's family said. "Tim will be remembered for his amazing images and his Academy Award–nominated documentary "Restrepo," which he co-produced with his friend Sebastian Junger."

Hetherington's family said the photojournalist was in Libya to continue his ongoing multimedia project to highlight humanitarian issues during time of war and conflict. "He will be forever missed," the statement added.

Hetherington, who was originally born in Britain, had posted a final message on the social networking website Twitter just a day before he was killed. "[i'm] in [the] besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Gaddafi forces. No sign of NATO," he wrote.

The other fallen journalist was identified as 41-year-old Chris Hondros who worked as a staff photographer for the Getty Images agency and was to be married.

"Chris never shied away from the front line having covered the world's major conflicts throughout his distinguished career and his work in Libya was no exception," Getty Images said in a statement. "We are working to support his family and his fiancée as they receive this difficult news, and are preparing to bring Chris back to his family and friends in the United States. He will be sorely missed."

Just hours before Hondros was killed in Misrata, Getty Images had published a series of photographs made recently by Hondros. They showed rebel fighters in a burning home during house-to-house fighting in downtown Misrata.

According to Human Rights Watch, 28-year-old British freelance photographer Guy Martin was also injured in Misrata and remains in a critical condition. Michael Christopher Brown, another freelance photographer, was also wounded by shrapnel in the same incident.

In the United States, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the American government was saddened to learn of the casualties. "Journalists across the globe risk their lives each day to keep us informed, demand accountability from world leaders, and give a voice to those who would not otherwise be heard," he said. "The Libyan government and all governments across the world must take steps to protect journalists doing this vital work."

The bodies of Hetherington and Hondros were taken from Misrata to the rebel capital of Benghazi by the International Organization for Migration aboard the Ionian Spirit, which had been brought in to evacuate civilians from Misrata. Martin and Brown remained in the hospital in Misrata, HRW said.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-21

[dananderson]

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