[Media-watch] Journalist and civilian casualties

[John Meed]

Dear MediaWatch

The head of the Glasnost Foundation, Alexei Simonov, has called for a public
investigation into the attack on a Baghdad hotel that left at least two
journalists dead today, and for the eventual punishment of those
responsible.  In a declaration to AFP he claims that his colleagues have
told him that shots were not fired from the hotel, as claimed by the US, and
asks whether this was a premeditated act by US forces. He also points out
that similar US claims in the past have often been worthless. (Reported in
Le Monde this afternoon)

El Pais, the Spanish paper, keeps a running check on the fatalities in Iraq.
Monday's edition gave the following figures:

Iraqi civilian deaths: 1252
Journalists 6 dead and 5 missing (at least 2 more deaths to add since)
Invading forces: 28 British dead and 81 american dead - 8 americans missing

Regards

John