French reporter dies in Syria as world leaders call for journalists’ protection


Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 12-01-2012

The death of a reporter for France 2 Television has prompted world leaders to demand protection for journalists in Syria in the midst of its bloody uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

Gilles Jacquier, 43, is the first western reporter to die in Syria since the anti-government protests began in March 2011.
An AFP photographer said he died on 11 January following the explosion of a shell in Homs in the midst of about 15 journalists, covering demonstrations on a visit organised by the authorities.
"Pro-Assad activists were also hit. When I went down, I saw Gilles lying in a pool of blood. An ambulance drove up and I jumped in. At the hospital, it was chaos and total hysteria, with more wounded arriving every five minutes," said the AFP photographer.
Six Syrians have also been reported killed in the explosion, along with injuries to a Belgian journalist and Dutch photographer.
The French Government has demanded an enquiry, with Nicolas Sarkozy, the country's president saying: "France expects the Syrian authorities to shed light on the death of a man who was simply doing his job: reporting."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague has condemned the attack, and the US has accused Syria of failing to provide an environment hospitable to the media.
Meanwhile, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has joined media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in demanding a rapid inquiry.
The death of Gilles Jacquier follows that of Syrian journalist Shukri Ahmad Ratib Abu Burghul on 2 January; citizen journalist Basil Al-Sayed on 29 December; and Syrian cameraman Ferzat Jarban on 20 November 2011.
The United Nations estimates over 5,000 people - mainly civilians - have died in Syria since the anti-regime protests began.