British (CBS news) journalist, interpreter kidnapped in Basra

Source: Voice of Iraq

Basra, Feb 11, (VOI) – A British journalist and his interpreter were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen near Qasr al-Sultan hotel in central Basra on Sunday, police said.

"Gunmen in two vehicles kidnapped British journalist Butler Richard, who works for the CBS news foundation, and his Iraqi interpreter and led them to an unknown place," a police source, who asked for anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Richard and his interpreter were guests at the Qasr al-Sultan hotel in central Basra and were on a press mission, the source added.

Read more: http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=69238&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

"The Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said at least 208 journalists and media assistants have been killed in Iraq since March 2003." 65 of these death were in 2007 alone.

I wish them and their families well.

Iraq launches hunt for kidnapped CBS journalists
AFP - 6 minutes agoBASRA, Iraq (AFP) - Security forces have launched a search for two journalists from the American television network CBS who were kidnapped at gunpoint from their hotel in the Iraqi city of Basra, an official said Tuesday.

"There is an intensive operation underway to find the journalists," interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf told AFP.

"These are journalists doing their job and those common criminals must be brought to justice."

Witnesses said the journalists were led away from the Palace Sultan Hotel in the southern city of Basra at gunpoint by a gang of about 10 gunmen on Sunday after having booked in the previous day.

more:http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080212/twl-iraq-media-us-cbs-kidnap-2802f3e.html