Posted on 03/26/2003 3:31:06 PM PST by kattracks
Newsday loses contact with its Baghdad journalists
WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - Two journalists working for the U.S. newspaper Newsday in Baghdad have not been heard from for two days, after Iraqi officials rounded up several foreign-based journalists for expulsion from the country, the daily said on Wednesday.
Reporter Matt McAllester, 33, Newsday's former Middle East bureau chief, and photographer Moises Saman, 29, entered Iraq about a month ago on temporary visas given to reporters covering anti-war protesters who had volunteered as so-called human shields against U.S. military attacks.
Newsday Editor Tony Marro said the Long Island, New York, newspaper has had no contact with them since Monday, just before Iraqi officials apparently informed the two men they would be driven to the border with Jordan or Syria and expelled with about eight others for having expired or inappropriate visas.
According to the newspaper, the two men had entered with temporary visas but later secured official accreditation as visiting journalists from the Iraqi Ministry of Information.
"People at the Information Ministry have told other reporters over there that these people are going to be safe," Marro told Reuters.
"But it's been a couple days now, and we don't know where they are. We don't know if they're still in Baghdad. We don't know if they're somehow being moved overland, and if they are, whether it's north to Syria or west to Jordan."
In a memo to staff on Wednesday, Marro said Newsday had not been able to contact Iraqi government officials. Instead, the newspaper has had to rely on information from journalists for other news organizations who are still in Baghdad.
"So far as we know, they are not under formal detention," the memo said.
Based on piecemeal information, Marro said McAllester and Saman were apparently ordered to leave their hotel late on Monday or early on Tuesday by Iraqi authorities who said they would be escorted to the Jordanian border sometime on Tuesday by two Information Ministry officials.
Reporters in Baghdad later told the newspaper the departure was delayed until Wednesday so government officials could arrange to have the journalists driven to Syria instead.
Newsday has about a dozen journalists reporting on the war from the Gulf region.
McAllester and Saman are both experienced at operating in war-torn environments, including Afghanistan, Marro said.
03/26/03 18:17 ET
Moises Saman joined the Newsday photo staff in February 2000. Previously, he was a Newsday photo intern, beginning in 1998. A native of Barcelona, Spain, he is a graduate of California State University at Fullerton and Cerrito College in Norwalk, Cal. While at Fullerton, he worked as a staff photographer for the college newspaper, The Daily Titan.
Tonight we welcomew new show host TOM ATKINS! *GARY ALDRICH Former FBI agent, Author of Unlimited Access Gary will discuss his new book, and America's current political situation.
*PIERRE DE HAIL Former French Special Ops fighter, president of Risk Management International Pierre will offer exceptional insight in the Iraq war, and controversial opinions on France, Europe
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.