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      Reporters' Committee Says Middle East Remains Most Dangerous Region

   On a day when deepening violence in Africa and Russia dominated the
   news, a leading journalism organization reports that the Middle East
   remains the world`s most dangerous place for reporters.
   The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says in a year-end
   report released Monday at least 70 reporters were killed in connection
   with their work during 2013, down slightly from 74 in the previous
   year. Two-thirds of this year`s deaths occurred in the Middle East.
   The most dangerous single country was Syria, where at least 29
   journalists died while trying to cover a civil war that has raged since
   2011. CPJ says about 60 other journalists were kidnapped in the country
   during the year, half of whom are still missing.
   Elsewhere in the Middle East, 10 journalists died during the year in
   Iraq, where violence returned to the highest levels since 2011. Another
   six were killed in Egypt, where protests have continued since the
   overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in June.
   CPJ noted a reduction in journalist deaths in parts of Africa, despite
   spiraling conflicts in Mali, Central African Republic, South Sudan and,
   beginning Monday, the Republic of Congo. The organization says only
   four journalists died during 2013 in Somalia, which has long been one
   of the most dangerous countries for reporters.
   The report says two journalists were killed during the year in Russia,
   where two suicide bombings this week have killed a total of 31 people
   in what is seen as a campaign to drive visitors away from the Sochi
   winter Olympics.
   CPJ notes that, as in past years, 90 percent of the reporters who died
   were employed by local news organizations.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/reporters-committee-says-middle-east-
   remains-most-dangerous-region/1819917.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/reporters-committee-says-middle-east-remains-most-dangerous-region/1819917.html