FREELANCE CAMERAMAN KILLED

New York, March 26, 2004—An Iraqi cameraman freelancing for the U.S.-based television station ABC was killed today in the city of Fallujah, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of the capital, Baghdad.

The Washington Post reported that 15 Iraqis were killed today in Fallujah following a firefight that occurred “as U.S. Marines conducted house-to-house searches” in the city. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that Burhan Mohamed Mazhour, who had been freelancing for ABC for nearly two months, was standing among a group of working journalists “when U.S. troops fired in their direction.”

According to ABC News, Mazhour was struck in his head by a single bullet and later died in a hospital. ABC News has asked the U.S. military to conduct an investigation.