By: (AP) The number of journalists killed around the world is up sharply over last year, an increase driven by the war in Iraq and conflicts in Colombia and other hotspots, a group that promotes press freedom said Wednesday.
The World Association of Newspapers said 51 journalists have been killed on the job or because of their work so far this year, more than in all of 2002.
The association counted 46 deaths of journalists for all of 2002.
"The figure is appalling and once again underlines that governments and media organizations must do more to protect journalists wherever their duty to inform the public takes them -- even to war zones," Timothy Balding, the group's director general, said in a statement.
The Paris-based group, which represents 18,000 newspapers, said that according to its count, nearly one-third of the total -- 16 journalists -- were killed in the Iraq war and its aftermath.
The association said Colombia, where seven reporters have been killed, and the Philippines, with six deaths, also remain "among the most dangerous places for journalists." Both nations are the site of long-running conflicts between guerrillas the government.
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