Iraq's cabinet approves draft law to protect journalists

Iraq's cabinet approved a draft law yesterday to protect journalists working in Iraq and will provide them and their families with state if they are killed or wounded during the course of doing their job.

"This draft law aims to provide security for Iraqi journalists in the republic of Iraq and to ensure their rights," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.

"The Iraqi government believes in providing security and protection for journalists and enabling them to perform their activities freely and safely," he added.

The families of journalists killed while on duty would receive $2,400 dollars, while journalists who suffer from injuries would get $1,300 dollars and cheap medical treatment at government hospitals.

With Iraq, along with Pakistan and Afghanistan, being considered as one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, media regulators had urged the Iraqi government to end the harassment and assault meted out to journalists by state officials.

According to The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 139 journalists and 51 working for media outlets have been killed in Iraq since March 2003, while Reporters Without Borders says, since the start of fighting in Iraq in March 2003, 225 journalists and media assistants have been killed.