Japanese journalist killed in Syria

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ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The remains of a Japanese journalist killed while reporting on the conflict in Syria were moved Tuesday to Turkey.

Mika Yamamoto, a correspondent with the independent news agency The Japan Press, was killed Monday during clashes between opposition rebels and the forces of President of Bashar Assad, Today's Zaman reported.

Her body was taken to a hospital in the southern Turkish province of Kilis where a routine autopsy was to be performed before her remains were returned to Japan.

A spokesman for the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Yamamoto was hit by gunfire while traveling with the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Yamamoto was a veteran war correspondent, having covered the war in Afghanistan after 2001 and the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.