woensdag, oktober 13, 2004
Fotojournalist Paul Taggart (WpN) vrijgelaten in Irak
An American photographer abducted by gunmen in Baghdad on Sunday has been freed and is safe, the picture agency representing him said on Tuesday. Paul Taggart (24) has been released and has spoken by telephone with his parents in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said Stephen Claypole, chief executive officer of World Picture News in New York.
Claypole said Taggart, who had been in Iraq for about five months, was kidnapped by three masked gunmen early on Sunday morning in Baghdad's Habbeya Square when his car was intercepted by what appeared to be a criminal gang. He had been on his way to a planned 10-day picture-shooting project in Sadr City, the sprawling and volatile Shi'ite slum area in the east of the city.
The abduction was one of dozens of kidnappings of non-Iraqis in recent months, many of which have ended with the victims killed by beheading or other means.
The work of media in Iraq has been severely limited because of the deadly uprising by opponents of the U.S.-led forces that occupied the country last year. Frequent bombings, abductions and shooting have made moving around the country extremely dangerous.
Taggart's release was partly facilitated by his journalist colleagues in the Baghdad, Claypole said. "He is on his way now to the New York Times compound in Baghdad," he added. He did not give details about the circumstances of the release.
Bron: Reuters.
Paul Taggart na zijn vrijlating geinterviewd op Al Arabiya
Claypole said Taggart, who had been in Iraq for about five months, was kidnapped by three masked gunmen early on Sunday morning in Baghdad's Habbeya Square when his car was intercepted by what appeared to be a criminal gang. He had been on his way to a planned 10-day picture-shooting project in Sadr City, the sprawling and volatile Shi'ite slum area in the east of the city.
The abduction was one of dozens of kidnappings of non-Iraqis in recent months, many of which have ended with the victims killed by beheading or other means.
The work of media in Iraq has been severely limited because of the deadly uprising by opponents of the U.S.-led forces that occupied the country last year. Frequent bombings, abductions and shooting have made moving around the country extremely dangerous.
Taggart's release was partly facilitated by his journalist colleagues in the Baghdad, Claypole said. "He is on his way now to the New York Times compound in Baghdad," he added. He did not give details about the circumstances of the release.
Bron: Reuters.
Paul Taggart na zijn vrijlating geinterviewd op Al Arabiya
# posted by Jan-Edward : 01:29
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