BBC: Staff subjected to mock execution in Libya

Associated Press ^ | MARCH 7, 2011 | By DAVID STRINGER

[robowombat]

LONDON – Three British Broadcasting Corp. staff were detained, beaten and subjected to mock executions by pro-regime soldiers in Libya while attempting to reach the western city of Zawiya, the broadcaster said Wednesday.

The news organization said the crew, members of a BBC Arabic team, were detained on Monday by Moammar Gadhafi loyalists at a check point about 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of Zawiya. Chris Cobb-Smith, a British journalist and part of the crew, said the group were moved between several locations, in some cases alongside civilian captives who had visible injuries from heavy beatings.

On Tuesday, the crew were driven to a building in Tripoli which they believed was the headquarters of Libya's overseas intelligence service. The men were told to bow their heads and line along a wall by soldiers. "A man with a small submachine gun was putting it to the nape of everyone's neck in turn. He pointed the barrel at each of us. When he got to me at the end of the line, he pulled the trigger twice. The shots went past my ear," Cobb-Smith said.

The BBC said the men were held for 21 hours before they were released, and have since left Libya. It reported the details of their detention in bulletins late on Wednesday.

[MeganC]

I thought journalists were special and above such treatment?

[ClearCase_guy]

If the media made a habit of telling the world that bloodthirsty, devil worshiping primitive cultures were bloodthirsty, devil worshiping primitive cultures, I would feel outraged by this and declare that journalists ought not to be treated this way.

But, since journalists are enormous enablers of bloodthirsty, devil worshipping primitive cultures, I guess I'd have to say: "What's Charlie Sheen up to?

[katykelly]

Hmmm... well said .

[org.whodat]

Did old Cobb require clean undies???