International press body condemns killing of journalist in Yemen

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Wednesday condemned the killing of Al-Masirah TV channel correspondent Khalid Mohammad Al-Washali, who died last Sunday in the city of Dhamar, south of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
The reporter was one of the four people killed by a roadside bomb blast, allegedly carried out by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and became the first journalist to be killed in 2015.
"We condemn the killing of Al-Washali and we send our condolences to his family and colleagues," said IFJ president Jim Boumelha.
"This killing is a reminder of the mindless violence which continues to prey on unsuspecting members of the public attending events and journalists covering them," he said in a statement.
The IFJ also reiterated its protest at the Houthis leader's, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, incitement against Yemeni media and asked him to withdraw his forces from media organisations they are currently occupying, like the biggest state-owned newspaper in Yemen al-Thawra, which was occupied by this group since last 16 December.
"Yemeni journalists have been under attack from all warring sides in Yemen who are bent on undermining the independence of media," added Beth Costa, IFJ General Secretary.
"We urge all sides to stop interfering in journalists' affairs and refrain from all actions likely to endanger the lives of our colleagues who work in some of the worst conditions in the Middle East," she said.
The Middle East was the second most dangerous region of the world for journalists in 2014 with 31 casualties, after Asia Pacific which had 35 casualties, noted Costa.
The Brussels-based IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 134 countries.