Record year for journalist deaths

The year 2006 was the deadliest on record for journalists and media workers worldwide, with at least 155 homicides and unexplained deaths, the International Federation of Journalists announced in Brussels.

The group, representing more than half a million journalists in more than 100 countries, said in its annual report that Iraq continued to be the most dangerous place to work, with 68 media staffers killed, bringing the total since the war began in March 2003 to 170.

The IFJ also pointed to continuing attacks on journalists in Latin America, where 37 were killed. In the Philippines, 13 deaths pushed the total in Asia to 34, the IFJ said.