World media body slams Israeli attack on media in Lebanon

July 25, 2006 - 0:0
BRUSSELS (IRNA) -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's biggest journalists' group, Sunday condemned Israeli air raids on Saturday that hit transmission stations used by several Lebanese television channels and the reported killing of a media worker working for the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation. "These attacks once again put media in the frontline of the conflict," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "They represent an appalling threat to press freedom and to the safety of media staff and cannot be justified."

Two others were wounded in the strikes when relay stations for Future TV, Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television and the nation's leading private network, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, were attacked by Israeli bombs.

The IFJ says that the attacks broaden Israel's assault on media beyond Hezbollah's Al-Manar television which was attacked last week.

The strike against the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, the country's leading private broadcaster, underlined the federation's concern about targeting, which it says is dangerous but ineffective in stifling media.

Al-Manar reportedly only went off the air for less than 10 minutes during the pounding, said the IFJ.

"The bombarding of media facilities is a deplorable assault on the democratic infrastructure of Lebanon," said White.

The Brussels-based IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries.