Syrian National Council Says Regime 'Liquidating' Journalists

The opposition Syrian National Council accused the regime on Thursday of "liquidating" journalists in order to hush up what is happening in the country, a day after a French reporter was killed.

The SNC's accusation came as France demanded an investigation into the death the previous day of Gilles Jacquier, 43, who worked for France 2 television, during a government-organized trip to the flashpoint city of Homs.

The SNC denounced the "murder" of Jacquier, saying it was a "dangerous sign that the authorities have decided to physically liquidate journalists in an attempt to silence neutral and independent media."

The award-winning Jacquier, who had covered conflicts in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan, was the first Western reporter to die in Syria since anti-regime protests erupted in mid-March last year.

An Agence France Presse photographer said he was killed when a shell exploded among some 15 journalists covering demonstrations in Homs on a visit organized by the authorities.

Six Syrians were also reported killed, and several other people wounded.

Anti-regime activists in Homs also said the authorities had orchestrated the attack, while state television blamed "a terrorist group" that had opened fire on the journalists and a gathering of regime supporters.

Wissam Tarif, an Arab campaigner with international activist non-governmental organization Avaaz, undermined the government's claims.

"The journalists were attacked in a heavily militarized regime stronghold. It would be hugely difficult for any armed opposition to penetrate the area and launch such a deadly attack," he said.

Tarif also said the incident was an "unacceptable breach of the Arab League protocol," to which Syria has committed itself and which requires journalists to have freedom to report across Syria.

"The regime has denied journalists free access to the country, forcing them to join press tours organized by the ministry of information and chaperoned closely by regime minders," he said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a statement that "France expects the Syrian authorities to shed light on the death of a man who was simply doing his job: reporting."

British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the attack, saying the "deaths highlight once again the terrible price being paid by the people of Homs, as well as the courage of journalists who take great personal risks to bring to light what is happening to the people of Syria."

And EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton joined global press watchdog Reporters Without Borders in demanding a rapid inquiry.

The SNC urged international organizations to deal with the "crimes perpetrated by the regime against Syrian and foreign journalists."