UN condemns journalist attacks

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The United Nations Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution condemning attacks on journalists working in war zones.

The resolution, sponsored by Greece and France, said armies and insurgent groups should do their utmost to prevent crimes against media personnel.

It stressed that journalists were civilians and should be protected under international law.

This year, 55 journalists have died as a direct result of their work.

Last year, 47 journalists were killed.

The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists said violence in Iraq had claimed the lives of 32 journalists in 2006.

It added that the country was the deadliest place for journalists for the fourth year in a row. Some 92 reporters have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003.

Afghanistan and the Philippines were the next most dangerous countries, with three journalists killed in each.

Two reporters were also killed in each of Russia, Mexico, Pakistan and Colombia.

While the resolution condemned attacks targeting journalists and associated media personnel, it also spoke out against media incitement to violence against civilians.