CBS Freelancer Probed in Iraq
Saturday, April 09, 2005
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BAGHDAD, Iraq — A cameraman carrying CBS (search) press credentials was detained in Iraq earlier this week on suspicion of insurgent activity, the U.S. military said Friday, while the network issued a statement saying it was investigating the incident.
The cameraman suffered minor injuries Tuesday during a battle between U.S. soldiers and suspected insurgents, and was standing next to an alleged insurgent who was killed during the shootout, the military said.
The military issued a statement at the time saying the cameraman was shot because his equipment was mistaken for a weapon. But on Friday, the military said the cameraman was detained because there was probable cause to believe he posed "an imperative threat to coalition forces."
"He is currently detained and will be processed as any other security detainee," the military said.
In a statement released Friday, CBS News said the man had worked as a freelancer for CBS for three months and that he was videotaping for the network when he was shot.
"It is common practice in Iraq for Western news organizations (search) to hire local cameramen in places considered too dangerous for Westerners to work effectively. The very nature of their work often puts them in the middle of very volatile situations," the statement said.
"CBS News continues to investigate the situation, and when more information becomes available, we will report it."
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