Journalists 'held by Iraqis'

Journalists 'held by Iraqis'

Matthew McAllester (left) and Moises Saman: Disappeared from hotel

A total of nine Western journalists are said to have been detained by the authorities in Baghdad.

Two journalists from the US newspaper Newsday have not been heard from for a week, while seven Italian journalists who went missing near the southern city of Basra have turned up in Baghdad.

Newsday's reporter Matthew McAllester, 33, and photographer Moises Saman, 29, disappeared from their hotel in the Iraqi capital last Monday while covering the war.

Their editor, Anthony Marro, said Iraqi officials had told other reporters in the city that the pair were part of a group of journalists being deported because of visa irregularities.

"On the basis of interviews with journalists who saw them last, and who in some cases had similar experiences with Iraqi security officials, we believe they are being held," Marro said in a statement.

Molly Bingham: Also reported missing

"We appeal to Iraqi officials to explain their whereabouts, to allow us to contact them directly and to allow their safe passage out of Iraq."

The seven Italians, from several different newspapers, disappeared last Friday after trying to get into Basra to report on conditions there.

Paolo Serventi Longhi of the National Italian Press Federation said they had been arrested by the Iraqi authorities and taken to Baghdad.

He added that they were being kept in a hotel there, but had been allowed to contact their families and news desks by telephone.

"They are in good condition," Mr Longhi said.

"They could be freed soon. The Iraqis might even offer them a visa to remain in Baghdad."

Freelance French-American photographer Molly Bingham, who like the Newsday journalists was said to be being deported, is also reported to be missing.

Dangerous work

Hundreds of journalists are in Iraq covering the US-led war, either in the field with American and British military units, or acting independently.

Two journalists - a Briton and an Australian - have been killed during the war.

Two colleagues of ITN's Terry Lloyd, the British television reporter who died near Basra, are still missing.

A British television correspondent, Gaby Rado, died on Sunday after apparently falling from a hotel roof in the northern Iraqi town of Sulaymaniyah.

The annual report of the Committee to Protect Journalists says a total of 19 journalists were killed worldwide last year as a direct result of their work - the lowest recorded level - but the number behind bars rose sharply.