/ 14 November 2003

Journalists attacked in Iraq

A Portuguese television journalist was injured on Friday when a convoy of journalists was attacked near the southern Iraqi city of Basra, reports said.

A radio journalist was abducted by the gunmen.

Maria Jose Ruela of the private television channel SIC was shot in the leg. Reports said her injuries were not serious.

Contacted by mobile phone, Carlos Raleiras of the radio station TSF told the news agency Lusa that he had been kidnapped.

“The situation is very complicated and I cannot talk,” he said and hung up.

A convoy of Portuguese journalists was travelling in three four-wheel vehicles from Kuwait to Basra, where 128 Portuguese military police arrived on Thursday for a six-month mission.

Gunmen used several cars to block the road and opened fire. Some of the journalists managed to escape. British troops came to rescue the others and took them to a military base in Basra.

British troops were searching for Raleiras, while Ruela was taken to a hospital near the Kuwaiti border.

On Thursday, a Portuguese radio reporter was abducted near Basra, but he was released later on. — Sapa-DPA

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