WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A total of 53 journalists were killed and another 907 arrested while performing their duties as reporters last year, Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday.
Iraq proved to be the deadliest assignment for journalists, with 19 reporters and 12 people working directly for them killed in 2004. Most of the deaths were blamed on terrorists and Iraqi guerrillas, Reporters Without Borders said, but four were killed by U.S. Army personnel.
Reporters Without Borders said six journalists in the Philippines and four in Bangladesh were killed while investigating corruption or drug trafficking.
Reporters Without Borders claimed that East Asia -- particularly North Korea, Myanmar, China, Vietnam and Laos -- was the area with the least press freedom. Twenty-six journalists were imprisoned in China in 2004 and another 12 in Myanmar. At least 30 Internet journalists considered political dissidents were imprisoned in Iran.
More journalists were killed in 2004 while working than any year since 1995, when 64 journalists were killed. The group said that in 2003, 40 journalists were killed in the line of duty and another 766 were arrested.
