CPJ calls for inquiry into media deaths in Iraq

The Committee to Protect Journalists has written to the US Secretary of Defense, Robert M Gates, calling for a public inquiry into the deaths of journalists and media staff in Iraq.
The CPJ says it is disturbed by the video recently disclosed by WikiLeaks showing a U.S. military strike that took place on July 12, 2007. The attack killed an unspecified number of individuals, including Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen  and his assistant, Saeed Chmagh.
At least 16 journalists and three media support workers have been killed by U.S. forces’ fire, according to CPJ’s research.
It says of an investigation: "The findings should be made public and lessons learned should be incorporated into military training to reduce the likelihood that journalists covering combat operations will come under fire."
CPJ executive director Joel Simon says in the letter:  "We renew our call for comprehensive, impartial, and public inquiries into all of these cases, including the events of July 12, which led to the deaths of Noor-Eldeen and Chmagh. These investigations would benefit both the military and the media so long as the lessons learned are integrated into future training."
The International Federation of Journalists has already appealed to President Obama to open an inquiry.