AP employee found shot to death in Iraq

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The body of an Associated Press employee was found shot in the back of the head Friday, six days after he was last seen by his family leaving for work. Ahmed Hadi Naji, 28, was the fourth AP staffer to die violently in the Iraq war and the second AP employee killed in less than a month. He had been a messenger and occasional cameraman for the AP for 2 1/2 years.

"All of us at AP share the pain and grief being felt by Ahmed's family and friends," said AP President and CEO Tom Curley. "The situation for our journalists in Iraq is unprecedented in AP's 161-year history of covering wars and conflicts. The courage of our Iraqi colleagues and their dedication to the story stand as an example to the world of journalism's enduring value."

The circumstances of Naji's death were unclear. Dozens of Iraqis are found slain almost every day in Baghdad, many believed victims of sectarian death squads.

Naji's wife, Sahba'a Mudhar Khalil, reported him missing Dec. 30 when he did not return that evening. He had left home by motorcycle in the Ashurta Al Khamsa District in southwest Baghdad at 10:30 a.m., telling her he was going to the AP office. Naji's body was found in a morgue.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_ap_staffer

[VegasWolf]

1. "Them terrorists are in their last throes" "Mission Accomplished" "Bring 'em on!" nt

[Ian_rd]

2. Translated for the right-wingnutosphere:

Victory! Another terrorist-journalist killed!

[Old and In the Way]

3. To the Malkinites, No news is Good news.

They prefer no reporting coming from Iraq so they could color in their own rosy picture.

[Cha]

4. But, "Iraq is doing great" and

"the press only prints the negative"!

[ellisonz]

5. He was a brave young man...

and it is a shame that there are those in Iraq who would murder such a man.

:banghead:

[uppityperson]

6. my condolences to the family and friends for his murder.

[Olney Blue]

7. Another tragic death in Bush's war.