Hotel hit 'deliberate': French TV

Agence France-Presse ^ | April 8, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

FOOTAGE filmed by France 3 television of a strike on a hotel which killed two journalists in Baghdad today shows a US tank targeting the journalists' hotel and waiting at least two minutes before firing.

The journalist and film editor who filmed the attack, Herve de Ploeg, who filmed the attack, said: "I did not hear any shots in the direction of the tank, which was stationed at the west entrance of the Al-Jumhuriya (Republic) bridge, 600 metres north-west of the hotel.

The tank's turret is seen moving toward the Palestine Hotel, where foreign reporters have set up shop, and the gun carriage lifting and waiting at least two minutes before opening up.

The French TV channel had positioned two cameras in two rooms facing the bridge as of 6.30am (11.30pm AEST).

"It had been very quiet for a moment. There was no shooting at all. Then I saw the turret turning in our direction and the carriage lifting. It faced the target," said De Ploeg.

"It was not a case of instinctive firing," he said. The firing took place at 11.59am (5.59pm AEST), said France 3 reporter Caroline Sinz.

"I'm very specific because I was due to go on air," she explained.

The incident killed a cameraman for the Telecinco Spanish television station and another for the British news agency Reuters. Three Reuters staffers were also wounded.

The Spanish cameraman was named as Jose Couso, 37. The Reuters cameraman was named as Ukrainian Taras Protsyuk, 35.

A US commander said the tank fired a single round at the hotel.

"The tank was receiving fire from the hotel, RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) and small-arms fire, and engaged with one tank round. The firing stopped," said General Buford Blount, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, speaking at Baghdad's international airport.

A reporter for the Arab satellite television Al-Jazeera died earlier today and a cameraman was injured after the station's offices in Baghdad were hit in a separate attack that the Qatar-based channel charged was a deliberate US strike.

[IonInsights]

Well then just stay the f*** out of the way.

[Delta 21]

Life in a war zone is tough and sometimes short. Which way to the French Embasy building?

[finnman69]

Note to journalists: If you are in a building with Iraqi goons shooting RPG's at Americans, you should leave immediately.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

It's all about you isn't it?

[sheik yerbouty]

The froggies feel neglected..

[Timesink]

It's all about you isn't it?

It is. It truly is. Even Fox did an immediate, massive swing to the America-hate side the moment a Precious Journalist got touched. (The hatefest didn't end until F&F came on at 6 am.)

[JEC]

Are we sure that the french did not fire at the tank not that I would imply any-wrong-doing by these cowards.

[sarasota]

So make sure that when under attack, you become a target for the bullets. Nimrods.

[ConservativeMan55]

I didn't see that...I saw Brian Wilson come up shortly after the reports and say "This cameraman knew what he was getting into"

[wimpycat]

I wonder how these journalists are so sure that NO ONE was firing at the tank position from the hotel?

I mean, how can you know if someone is firing from somewhere in the same building you are in or not?

[Bikers4Bush]

If you want to be safe get out of the war zone. If you don't and you die it's your own fault.

[Timesink]

I didn't see that...I saw Brian Wilson come up shortly after the reports and say "This cameraman knew what he was getting into"

The cameraman and the tank hit on the building were two different events, I think.

[Timesink]

I mean, how can you know if someone is firing from somewhere in the same building you are in or not?

You don't understand. They're Journalists. They are gods. They simply KNOW. </sarcasm>

[Use It Or Lose It]

Even Fox did an immediate, massive swing to the America-hate side the moment a Precious Journalist got touched.

Let me guess. Rita (I'll kiss up to anyone) Cosby was behind it.

[MinuteGal]

If we were "deliberately" targeting the journalists in this hotel, there wouldn't be one left standing to hurl false charges.

Leni

[ConservativeMan55]

Rita has actually gotten better lately...Remember her remark that Saddam looked older than Castro...after that first night of bombing?

[keithtoo]

I'm no gun expert, but isn't it VERY hard to hear small arms fire even from a short distance if the fire is directed AWAY from where you are? Especially if their is ample concrete around to deflect the sound?

It could easily be possible for small arms fire to be coming from several floors below or above them and they not be able to hear it.

[bullseye1911]

"It was not a case of instinctive firing," he said. The firing took place at 11.59am (5.59pm AEST), said France 3 reporter Caroline Sinz. "I'm very specific because I was due to go on air," she explained. The incident killed a cameraman for the Telecinco Spanish television station and another for the British news agency Reuters. Three Reuters staffers were also wounded.

Yea, we meant to kill reporters from two countries who have supported us from the word go. JEEZ, what a dipstick!!!!

[KingPin]

We're going to war with the French media! EXCELLENT!