The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the shelling in the Syrian city of Homs which killed American journalist Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik. Media reports say the two reporters died in a rocket attack as they were trying to escape the heavy shelling of the city which destroyed the makeshift media centre where they were working. “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. Colvin was the only journalist from a British newspaper and had reported earlier on the shelling in the city and described the bloodshed as “absolutely sickening”, according to reports. Last month, French journalist Gilles Jacquier of France 2, another war reporter, was also killed in a rocket attack in the city of Homs.. The IFJ is concerned that these latest killings will discourage journalists who wish to report from the city, fearing for their safety. The Federation is calling on the Syrian authorities to avoid indiscriminate attacks which risk costing the lives of civilians, including journalists. This follows the Red Cross appeal to warring factions to cease fire so as to enable humanitarian assistance for the benefit of the civilian population. “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.” The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries

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