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Killed reporter 'keen' about Iraq Reporter death details 'withheld'
(40 minutes later)
ITN's Terry Lloyd was "keen to get going" into Iraq days before he was killed on a road to Basra in the south in March 2003, an inquest has heard. The British military may have withheld information about ITN journalist Terry Lloyd's death in Iraq, a former media chief has told an inquest.
Newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald said he last saw him in the car park of the hotel they were staying at in Kuwait. Ex-ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis said the firm had made "numerous requests" to the defence secretary about Mr Lloyd's death in March 2003.
Mr Lloyd, 51, was shot dead on 22 March, crossing the border into Iraq. But only "limited" information was given, he told Oxford coroner's court.
Former ITN chief Stewart Purvis told the inquest "the military would not recognise independent journalists" and would not discuss troop movements. Mr Lloyd, 50, was shot dead on a road to the southern city of Basra, just days after hostilities in Iraq began.
It was pretty clear that the British Government did not want news correspondents in Baghdad Former ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis He was apparently caught in crossfire between Iraqi and US forces.
Mr Purvis stated the military did not wish to take responsibility for "unilaterals" - independent journalists - "to such an extent that in a sense they wouldn't even recognise their existence" . We couldn't force the military to tell us troop movements to pass on to our war correspondents Former ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis Mr Purves told the court so little information was given about the incident that ITN had to send two of its own journalists into Basra to find out.
"It was pretty clear that the British government did not want news correspondents in Baghdad," he added. He said: "I came to the conclusion that the British military knew more about what happened at the top level than they were disclosing to us."
"It was claimed that this was in the name of safety." Mr Purvis also claimed the military did not "recognise" journalists not embedded with their troops.
The former ITN chief executive also told the court ITN did notify the military about their news teams' travel plans. The military did not wish to take responsibility for "unilaterals" - independent journalists - "to such an extent that in a sense they wouldn't even recognise their existence", he said.
He told the court ITN did notify the military about their news teams' travel plans, but were not given any information about troop movements.
He added: "They were not prepared to enter into a dialogue so I'm not sure what more could have been done.He added: "They were not prepared to enter into a dialogue so I'm not sure what more could have been done.
"We couldn't force the military to tell us troop movements to pass on to our war correspondents.""We couldn't force the military to tell us troop movements to pass on to our war correspondents."
Oxford coroner Andrew Walker said: "It seems that there needs to be some way of informing unilateral teams about where troops are going to be."
'The journalist's journalist''The journalist's journalist'
Mr Purvis added although the ITN offices would have passed on any "useful" information to the veteran war correspondent, details Mr Lloyd would have gathered from British soldiers while travelling in the war zone would have been more valuable. Earlier, the inquest heard from newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald.
Sir Trevor, who described Mr Lloyd as "a good friend" whom he had known for 20 years, was the first witness at the inquest at Oxford's Old Assizes on Tuesday. Sir Trevor described Mr Lloyd as "a good friend" whom he had known for 20 years.
He described him as "the journalist's journalist" and "not a risk taker".He described him as "the journalist's journalist" and "not a risk taker".
Sir Trevor had been sent to Kuwait at the start of the war in Iraq to present the news and had been staying in the same hotel as Mr Lloyd, the court heard. Inactivity didn't suit him very well - he was rather keen to get going Sir Trevor McDonald "He was very professional. He regarded every job as a special assignment."
Sir Trevor had known Mr Lloyd for 20 years, he told the inquest He described how he had had breakfast with Mr Lloyd two days before his death, at a hotel in Kuwait.
Sir Trevor told the inquest that initial reports of his friend's death had been confused and that it had taken some days to find out what had actually happened. Mr Lloyd was "very keen to get going", he said.
French cameraman Fred Nerac and Lebanese translator Hussein Osman were with Mr Lloyd when they were apparently caught in crossfire between Iraqi and US forces. The last time he saw Mr Lloyd was two days later, in the car park of the hotel they were staying at, on the morning of his death.
The remains of Mr Osman were found while Mr Nerac is still classed as missing. He was subsequently called on to formally identify Mr Lloyd's body.
A fourth colleague, Daniel Demoustier, survived the incident and had later returned to the ITN base in Kuwait. Funeral in 2003
Sir Trevor also told the coroner he had later been called on to formally identify Mr Lloyd's body. Three colleagues were travelling with Mr Lloyd when he died - French cameraman Fred Nerac, Lebanese translator Hussein Osman and Daniel Demoustier.
I came to the conclusion that the British military knew more about what happened at the top level than they were disclosing to us. Mr Purvis The remains of Mr Osman were found while Mr Nerac is still classed as missing. Mr Demoustier survived the incident.
Mr Lloyd began his career in the Midlands before joining ITN in 1983. Mr Lloyd joined ITN in 1983 after beginning his career in Derby.
He went on to become one of the most experienced journalists in the network, taking on assignments in Lebanon and Cambodia, as well as an award-winning stint in Kosovo. He went on to become one of the most experienced and respected journalists for the network, covering conflicts around the world.
His funeral was held in Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, in April 2003.His funeral was held in Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, in April 2003.
The court heard ITN made "numerous requests" to the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, following the death of Mr Lloyd, but the information the television company was given about what happened was "limited". He is survived by his wife Lynn, and two children, Chelsey and Oliver.
Mr Purvis added: "I came to the conclusion that the British military knew more about what happened at the top level than they were disclosing to us.
"The simple solution was that two ITN journalists went to Basra to try and find out."
Oxford coroner Andrew Walker said: "It seems that there needs to be some way of informing unilateral teams about where troops are going to be."
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.