US forces say they hold cameraman

Ali al-Mashhadani was arrested last Saturday at the Iraqi parliament press centre in Baghdad’s government and diplomatic Green Zone.

A spokesman for the US military confirmed to AFP that he was in custody.

RSF said he “must be freed at once. It is unacceptable that US troops hold him on security grounds”. It cited the US military as saying Mashhadani was held because “he has been assessed to be a threat to the security of Iraq and coalition forces”.

Reuters has urged the US military to release Mashhandani immediately or publicly produce evidence to justify his detention.

Editor-in-chief David Schlesinger said any accusations against a journalist should be aired publicly and dealt with fairly and swiftly, with the journalist having the right to counsel and to present a defence. ■