Journalists call for release of kidnapped reporters in Iraq
3/3/2005 11:54
Italian journalist and co-founder of the Italian daily "Il Manifesto" Luciana
Castellina here on Wednesday called on the media in Greece and worldwide to
continue applying pressure for the release of all reporters kidnapped in
Iraq. Her comments were made during a press conference held at the Foreign
Press Association in Athens under an initiative of the Greek-Italian group
Prospective and a French group the Democratic Union of French Living Abroad
(ADF) along with several Greek newspapers. Italian left-wing female
journalist Giuliana Sgrena, French journalist Florence Aubenas of the newspaper
"Liberation" and her interpreter Hussein Hanoun El-Saadi are still under custody
of Iraqi militants. "Don't forget them; fight for their liberty, which
coincides with the Iraqi people's liberty," Castellina told reporters, adding
that journalists are "hostage to all the consequences of the military occupation
and the commercialization of war." "It is important for people - especially
journalists - to pressure governments" for the release of the kidnapped
journalists, Bernard Jenkins of ADF Jenkins said. A demonstration was also
held in front of the Italian embassy in Greece, calling for the release of
57-year-old female Giuliana Sgrena and withdrawal of Italian troops from
war-torn Iraq.
Xinhua
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