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Alert

RSF calls on British authorities to pursue investigation into French cameraman's disappearance following discovery of Lebanese interpreter's partial remains

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has hailed the "remarkable work" of the British military police in locating the partial remains of Hussein Osman, a Lebanese interpreter working for the British television news station ITN who went missing in Iraq on 22 March 2003.

The organisation regretted, however, that after a year of investigations British authorities are still unable to provide any information on the fate of French cameraman Fred Nérac, who disappeared at the same time as Osman.

On 25 June, ITN announced that DNA tests had identified remains found in Iraq as those of Osman, saying the finding confirmed an Iraqi witness's account that Nérac and Osman, who were travelling in the same vehicle, were detained and put in an Iraqi military pickup. The new information suggests that Osman was probably killed in the same fighting between United States (US) and Iraqi forces that also caused the death of British reporter Terry Lloyd, who was leading the ITN crew.

RSF encouraged the British Defence Ministry to "pursue with equal determination and professionalism [the] extensive investigation to establish the truth about the fate of Fred Nérac, who is still missing."

The organisation also called on the French government to provide all necessary assistance to the British authorities, and urged the US government to keep its promises to help solve the case.

During a working dinner in France on 5 June, US President George W. Bush assured French President Jacques Chirac of US "cooperation" in establishing exactly what happened.