Journalist killed

A television cameraman from a French station was killed in an attack in Homs, making him the first foreign journalist to be killed in the 10-month Syrian uprising.

Several Syrian journalists have been killed so far in the uprising, which the United Nations claims has cost 5,000 lives altogether.

Gilles Jacquier, who worked for France 2 Television, was in the country as part of a government-led visit by a group of foreign journalists.

Foreign journalists have only been able to cover the events in Syria with great difficulty and extremely limited access since the start of the uprising in March.

Jacquier was conducting interviews with the rest of the press group in the city of Homs when a spontaneous demonstration began, France 2 said in a statement on its website. The demonstration turned violent when rocket fire started, and Jacquier tried to take cover.

"[He] then took refuge in a building that was targeted by some of the firing," the station's statement said.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, six Syrians were also killed in the blast, and several other people were injured.

Experienced reporter

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe condemned what he described as "an odious act."

"It's up to Syrian authorities to ensure the security of international journalists on their territory, and to protect this fundamental liberty, which is the freedom of information," Juppe said on Wednesday.

The Syrian government blamed the attack on "terrorists."

Jacquier was an experienced cameraman who had previous experience covering the Arab revolution and had worked in Kosovo, Algeria and Afghanistan.

Author: Matt Zuvela (AP, dpa)
Editor: Nancy Isenson