Israel detains second Reuters journalist

Israeli troops have arrested a Reuters photographer, the second Palestinian journalist working for the international news organisation to be held without charge in recent weeks.

Soldiers stopped Suhaib Jadallah Salem, 22, at a checkpoint in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening as he was travelling in a Reuters vehicle towards the southern border town of Rafah.

The driver of the vehicle and at least one other passenger travelling in it were also held, witnesses said.

The Israeli army has not given Reuters an official explanation for the arrests. Its spokesmen did not return phone calls on the case on Thursday.

Salem was heading towards Egypt for a flight to join the Reuters team of photographers covering the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Geert Linnebank demanded that Israel either release Salem or produce details of evidence against him.

Salem's arrest came as Jussry al-Jamal, a Reuters cameraman, started a fourth week in an Israeli jail.