RP, Iraq most deadly for journalists

RP, Iraq most deadly for journalists

SOUTH KOREA: The Philippines and Iraq were the most deadly countries for journalists over the past six months, a report said Saturday.

Nine journalists were killed in the Philippines and another ten in Iraq between last November and May, according to the report by the World Association of Newspapers.

In total, 38 journalists were killed around the world in the six-month period, the report said. It didn't give details of individual cases.

The Philippines has been hit by a wave of journalist killings blamed on criminal gangs and corrupt officials. Earlier this month, Kline Cantoneros, 34, a hard-hitting radio broadcaster, died after he was shot seven times by unidentified assailants in the southern Philippines.

The Philippines was also the world's second deadliest place for journalists after Iraq last year, with 13 journalists killed. Over 50 journalists have been killed in the country since 1986, the WAN report said.

The report named Nepal, Cuba, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Eritrea, China and Zimbabwe as "a few of the worst offenders" against press freedom, criticizing the governments' tight control over information.

In China, many journalists and human rights activists are given harsh prison sentences as part of the government's crackdown on dissidents in cyber space, according to the report.

"China continues to be the world's largest prison for journalists," the report said. -- AP