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| Lloyd cameraman 'feared for life' | Lloyd cameraman 'feared for life' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A cameraman was "convinced he was going to die" in crossfire between Iraqi and US troops, he has told the inquest into the death of journalist Terry Lloyd. | A cameraman was "convinced he was going to die" in crossfire between Iraqi and US troops, he has told the inquest into the death of journalist Terry Lloyd. |
| Belgian national Daniel Demoustier said he was "terrified" when US tanks opened fire on the ITN convoy as it approached Basra in southern Iraq in March 2003. | Belgian national Daniel Demoustier said he was "terrified" when US tanks opened fire on the ITN convoy as it approached Basra in southern Iraq in March 2003. |
| The Oxford inquest heard he, Mr Lloyd and Lebanese interpreter Hussein Osman had crossed from the Kuwaiti border. | The Oxford inquest heard he, Mr Lloyd and Lebanese interpreter Hussein Osman had crossed from the Kuwaiti border. |
| Mr Lloyd, 50, and Mr Osman died, French cameraman Fred Nerac is still missing. | Mr Lloyd, 50, and Mr Osman died, French cameraman Fred Nerac is still missing. |
| Mr Demoustier said he believed independent war reporting must continue, despite the dangers it posed. | |
| He said: "I think unilateral journalism (where journalists work independently of the armed forces) is of the highest importance. | |
| "We can't give this up and I am absolutely sure that both Terry and Fred would continue to do what they did." | |
| I was absolutely sure I was going to die, I was 100% sure Cameraman Daniel Demoustier | I was absolutely sure I was going to die, I was 100% sure Cameraman Daniel Demoustier |
| The court heard the news team was travelling independently of coalition forces to "interview civilians about their feelings in the first few days of the conflict" on 22 March 2003. | The court heard the news team was travelling independently of coalition forces to "interview civilians about their feelings in the first few days of the conflict" on 22 March 2003. |
| Mr Demoustier told Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker the team had been driving towards the bridge in "civilian traffic when they saw Iraqi troops coming towards them and turned round". | Mr Demoustier told Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker the team had been driving towards the bridge in "civilian traffic when they saw Iraqi troops coming towards them and turned round". |
| He said the second convoy vehicle, which Mr Lloyd and Mr Osman were in, was stopped by an Iraqi military vehicle, he then saw an Iraqi military vehicle halt beside him and the soldiers inside then give him a "thumbs-up sign". | He said the second convoy vehicle, which Mr Lloyd and Mr Osman were in, was stopped by an Iraqi military vehicle, he then saw an Iraqi military vehicle halt beside him and the soldiers inside then give him a "thumbs-up sign". |
| "At that same time gunfire started. It came from a distance," explained Mr Demoustier. | "At that same time gunfire started. It came from a distance," explained Mr Demoustier. |
| "Immediately I ducked down under the steering wheel. Then hell broke loose completely. | "Immediately I ducked down under the steering wheel. Then hell broke loose completely. |
| "The machine gun's fire was directly targeting my car. | "The machine gun's fire was directly targeting my car. |
| "I was absolutely sure I was going to die, I was 100% sure. | "I was absolutely sure I was going to die, I was 100% sure. |
| Car explosion | |
| "I stuck my head to the right and I saw my passenger door was open and Terry was not in the car." | "I stuck my head to the right and I saw my passenger door was open and Terry was not in the car." |
| Mr Demoustier told the court he looked up and saw the car roof was on fire - petrol cans the team had been carrying with them had ignited. | Mr Demoustier told the court he looked up and saw the car roof was on fire - petrol cans the team had been carrying with them had ignited. |
| The 44-year-old hurled himself out just before the car exploded. | The 44-year-old hurled himself out just before the car exploded. |
| "Most of the bullets were definitely coming from the American tanks," he said. | "Most of the bullets were definitely coming from the American tanks," he said. |
| He described how he lay in the sand and mud for up to 30 minutes before attempting to stand. | He described how he lay in the sand and mud for up to 30 minutes before attempting to stand. |
| Mr Demoustier told the court how he looked behind him to search for his colleagues and saw the second ITN vehicle parked up with the doors open. | Mr Demoustier told the court how he looked behind him to search for his colleagues and saw the second ITN vehicle parked up with the doors open. |
| Last week, a British man, known only as Soldier B, revealed he witnessed an exchange of fire between the US tank and the Iraqi vehicle for about 30 seconds before the truck burst into flames. | Last week, a British man, known only as Soldier B, revealed he witnessed an exchange of fire between the US tank and the Iraqi vehicle for about 30 seconds before the truck burst into flames. |
| He told the coroner: "I can't say for sure who engaged first." | He told the coroner: "I can't say for sure who engaged first." |