Three more journalists killed in Iraq in record toll

BAGHDAD, May 30 (Reuters) The deaths of three more Iraqi journalists were reported today, bringing the monthly total to nine and equalling the worst month on record for reporters in the Iraq war.

The monthly total is matched only by February 2004, when nine journalists were also killed, according to figures by Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Another independent watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), lists seven journalists killed in April 2003 as the bloodiest month for reporters since the start of the US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in March 2003.

Iraq is already the deadliest conflict in 25 years for journalists. RSF puts the total death toll of journalists and media assistants in Iraq at 177, while CPJ says 104 journalists have been killed. The figures do not include the latest deaths.

The toll of journalists came a day after May was confirmed as the deadliest month in more than two years for US soldiers. A total of 116 US soldiers have been killed so far this month, the worst tally since 137 were killed in November 2004.

Eight Iraqi journalists and a Russian photographer have died in Iraq so far this month. Three of the Iraqis, including a man killed with seven family members, died in the past three days.

Abdul Rahman al-Isawi, a reporter for the independent National Iraqi News Agency (NINA), was taken by gunmen from his home in the village of Amiriyat al-Falluja, 50 km west of Baghdad, on Monday night, NINA and family members said.

''Gunmen entered his house and dragged him with his father and brother to a nearby orchard, where they shot them,'' Isawi's cousin, Mohammed Hussein, told Reuters.

Another five family members were killed in clashes with the unidentified gunmen, family members said. Isawi was 31.

Nazar Abdul Wahid, a reporter for the Aswat al-Iraq news agency and New Sabah newspaper, was gunned down in Amara, 365 km south of Baghdad, today, said Aswat al-Iraq's Basra bureau chief Muhannad al-Saadi.

''He was standing outside a hotel with four other journalists when three gunmen in a car opened fire and killed him,'' Saadi said.

Wahid, 38, was a father of three, he said.

Gunmen also killed Mahmoud Hakim Mustafa, editor-in-chief of Hawadith weekly newspaper, near his home in Kirkuk in northern Iraq on Monday, police said.

The Iraqi Journalist Freedom Observatory demanded investigations into the deaths.

REUTERS GL KN2018