The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today warned of continuing violence against Iraqi journalists following the wounding of a television reporter in a bomb explosion on Monday in Baghdad.

"This was a lucky escape from yet another vicious targeted attack on an Iraqi journalist," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "We condemn this senseless violence which threatens to add to the country's record of media victims who lost their lives since the beginning of war in 2003."

According to reports, the police in Baghdad have confirmed that al-Iraqiya television journalist Alaa Muhssein was wounded in the blast caused by a sticky bomb which had been attached to his car.

The Iraqi Journalists Syndicat (IJS), an IFJ affiliate, has condemned the attack on the journalist and called on the security forces and the judiciary to do the necessary to find and prosecute the criminals. It also urged the Parliament to adopt the Journalists' Protection law which constitutes an essential guarantee for the future of journalism, their freedom and their families'.

The IFJ says the latest attack on journalists in Iraq raises fears of the return to the violent past following the invasion of Iraq during which over 250 journalists were killed in targeted attacks. Last month, two journalists from al-Iraqiya television channel were also murdered in Baghdad.

"The authorities need to implement urgent protection measures for Iraqi journalists," added White. "We support our colleagues in IJS in their fight against impunity."

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 07

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 125 countries