Region | Iraq
US military frees Reuters cameraman
The US military freed a Reuters television cameraman on Thursday after holding him for three weeks in Iraq without charges.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:42 August 21, 2008
Baghdad: The US military freed a Reuters television cameraman on Thursday after holding him for three weeks in Iraq without charges.
Ali Al Mashhadani, who also works freelance for the BBC and Washington-based National Public Radio, was detained in Baghdad on July 30 while he was in the Green Zone government compound for routine checks for a US military press card.
No charges ever filed
US forces have detained Al Mashhadani twice before, at one point holding him for five months, but no charge has ever been filed against the cameraman, who is based in Ramadi, the capital of western Anbar province.
The US military said at the time of his latest arrest that he was held "because he has been assessed to be a threat to the security of Iraq and coalition forces," but did not elaborate.
Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger said he was pleased Al Mashhadani was released but concerned that it was the third time he was "detained without explanation".
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