Head of Iraqi Journalists Syndicate dies after ambush
Shihab al-Timimi's car was ambushed in Baghdad
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Wednesday, 27, Feb 2008 06:36
The head of Iraq's largest journalist organisation has died four days after being seriously wounded when gunman opened fire on his car in Baghdad.
Shihab al-Timimi, 74, was an independent journalist as well as chief of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate and was well known for his opposition to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
The vehicle he was travelling in through north-eastern Baghdad came under attack on Saturday, with Mr al-Timimi sustaining considerable injuries.
He died today after suffering a stroke while in hospital.
His deputy at the journalists' union Mouayed al-Lami said today: "We have lost a pious, irreplaceable and honest man."
Mr al-Lami claimed the incident showed the constant threat journalists in Iraq were under.
"This shows that Iraqi journalists are still living under constant danger. We call upon the government to protect us; otherwise we will have to sit in our houses," he said.
The New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has claimed that the Iraq war is the deadliest conflict for international journalists in recent history.
The CPJ claim that 126 journalists and 50 support workers have been killed since 2003.
Four journalists have been killed worldwide in 2008; in Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Afghanistan.