BBC translator killed; U.S. correspondent dies

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 6 April 2003 CPJ press release:

BBC TRANSLATOR KILLED

U.S. correspondent dies

New York, April 6, 2003-CPJ is saddened by the death of Kamaran Abdurazaq Muhamed, a translator who was working for the BBC when he was killed today in northern Iraq in a "friendly fire" incident after a U.S. warplane dropped a bomb on a convoy of Kurdish soldiers who were traveling close to the city of Mosul.

Two BBC journalists were also injured, veteran correspondent John Simpson and producer Tom Giles. According to press reports, at least 18 people were killed in the incident, including members of U.S. Special Forces who were traveling with the convoy. U.S. Central Command in Qatar is investigating the incident.

Speaking to the BBC today, Simpson said he received shrapnel wounds to his ear, while Giles suffered an injury to his foot. The crew was transported to a U.S. hospital in Arbil, a town in northern Iraq, for treatment.

CPJ also mourns the death of NBC correspondent David Bloom, who died today of a pulmonary embolism while traveling with the U.S. 3rd Army Infantry Division, according to NBC. The embedded journalist was 39 years old.