US paper pays tribute to reporter

Daniel Pearl was described as an outstanding colleague

The Wall Street Journal's publisher Peter R Kann and managing editor Paul E Steiger have issued a statement honouring their journalist Daniel Pearl after news of his death was confirmed. Here is the statement in full.

We now believe, based on reports from the US State Department and police officials of the Pakistani province of Sindh, that Danny Pearl was killed by his captors.

We are heartbroken at his death.

Danny was an outstanding colleague, a great reporter, and a dear friend of many at the Journal.

His murder is an act of barbarism that makes a mockery of everything Danny's kidnappers claimed to believe in.

They claimed to be Pakistani nationalists, but their actions must surely bring shame to all true Pakistani patriots.

We will, in coming months, find ways, public and private, to celebrate the great work and good works Danny did.

But today is a day to grieve.

This loss is, of course, most painful for Danny's family, in this country and elsewhere.

We ask our colleagues in the press to respect their privacy, and to permit them to grieve undisturbed.

The Wall Street Journal is a public institution, but the Pearls are private citizens.

We hope also that our colleagues, too, will be permitted some time and space to begin the very difficult process of making peace with this profound loss.