U.S. Holds Reuters Staff Near Chopper Crash in Iraq

[RBHam]

Fri January 2, 2004 02:59 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - American soldiers on Friday detained three Iraqis working for Reuters as they covered the aftermath of a U.S. helicopter crash near the volatile town of Falluja.
A Reuters driver who was working with the three said they had earlier been fired on by U.S. troops as they filmed a checkpoint close to the site where a Kiowa observation helicopter was shot down by guerrillas.

One pilot was killed and another injured in the crash.

"We were fired on and we drove away at high speed," driver Alaa Noury said. He said Reuters cameraman Salem Uraiby had been filming the checkpoint using a camera on a tripod, and had been wearing a flak jacket clearly marked with the word "press."

more...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4066622

[izzie]

1. Maybe I am up to early but......

I swear the TV said these were terrorist dressed as news men.

[RBHam]

2. Probably CNN...

They PRE-spin nowadays. Very well trained.

[soup]

3. links to reports saying same-

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Five gunmen masquerading as reporters attacked U.S. soldiers guarding an 82nd Airborne Division Kiowa helicopter that was shot down by insurgent fighters near Fallujah Friday, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the spokesman for American forces in Iraq, said at a Baghdad press briefing on Friday.

One soldier died and one was wounded in the initial crash, which occurred around 12:20 pm local time. No one was injured in the subsequent attack.

The gunmen arrived on the scene at around 2 p.m. local time in two Mercedes cars, one black and one dark blue. Wearing black jackets "clearly marked 'press' in English' the men fired on soldiers guarding the crash site with small arms and rocket propelled grenades, according to Kimmitt.

One of the cars was traced back to a building where four men were arrested.
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040102-125023-1448r


-----------------


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi insurgents said to be posing as journalists fired assault weapons and rocket-propelled grenades at American paratroopers.

U.S. military officials said the American troops were guarding a burning U.S. helicopter that had been shot down near Fallujah, killing one soldier and wounding another.

There are no casualties reported in the ground attack.

U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said the attackers were wearing "black press jackets with 'press' clearly written in English."

Kimmitt said the attack on the soldiers securing the crash site was the first known instance of insurgents posing as journalists in their fight against U.S.-led occupation forces.
http://www.local6.com/news/2737608/detail.html

[TomNickell]

5. Devious...

Now, US soldiers will be suspicious of all journalists. Probably shoot a few more.

[MrPrax]

7. Good search...

Makes it seem that journalists--what few aren't 'inbedded'--are persona non grata...

Why would the Occupation authorities possibly think that Reuter's employees are 'terrorists' and why would they hold them, other than to send a message?

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Ummmm....

read the Reuters article.

ANOTHER group of insurgents dressed as newsmen made an attack. The Reuters people are genuine press people.

They are, however, still being held for reasons unknown.

[Gin]

6. that's one way to eliminate the press in Iraq....

gin