The director-general of the United Nations culture organisation UNESCO on Monday deplored the killing by shelling of acclaimed photoreporter Mohamed Ben Khalifa in the Libyan capital Tripoli on 19 January.
“I condemn the killing of Mohamed Ben Khalifa,” said Audrey Azoulay.
“I call on all those involved in the armed conflict in Libya to respect the Geneva Conventions recognizing the civilian status of journalists,” she added.
Mohamed Ben Khalifa, a distinguished photo and video journalist who worked for several international outlets including the Associated Press news agency, died of shrapnel wounds he sustained while covering clashes between armed militia.
Khalifa is survived by his wife, Lamya, and their 7-month-old daughter, Rayan, AP said.
At least 12 journalists have been killed in relation to their work since Libya's uprising began in 2011, of which 10 were photographers or camera operators, according to research by the Committee for the Protection of Journalists watchdog.
