LOC20:18
17:18 GMT
PARIS, Jan 18 (KUNA) -- French President Francois Hollande reacted with
"strong emotion" to the report that a French journalist had been killed in the
Syrian city of Aleppo.
Yves Debay, who was born in Belgium but lived and was accredited in France,
was apparently shot by a sniper while covering frontline fighting in Aleppo.
Opposition forces said he was shot by a Syrian army sharpshooter, a report
that could not be confirmed, as yet.
Hollande's office said in a statement that Debay was indeed a French
journalist. He is the third French reporter to be killed in the Syrian
conflict and a Franco-Algerian journalist has also lost his life there.
"France condemns this odious act and expresses its condolences, sympathy
and solidarity with the family and relatives of Yves Debay," Hollande said.
He paid homage to all press professionals who have given their lives to the
cause of freedom of information in Syria. (end)
jk.bs
KUNA 182018 Jan 13NNNN