Deadliest Pakistan for journalist

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pakistan has grow to be the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, with at least eight killed this year, while the number of news media deaths worldwide has dropped compared to last year, a press freedom group said on Wednesday.

At least 42 journalists have been killed worldwide so far in 2010, down from 72 in all of 2009, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Pakistan's death toll of at least eight journalists doubles its total of four from 2009. Six of the eight deaths in Pakistan were due to suicide attacks or cross-fire during militant strikes, the group said.

"The deaths of at least eight journalists in Pakistan are a symptom of the pervasive violence that grips the country, much of it spilling over from neighbouring Afghanistan," Joel Simon, the group's executive director, said in a statement.

"With the rise in suicide attacks, the greatest risk is simply covering the news," Simon added. "This is a deeply troubling and frankly untenable situation."

Iraq was the second deadliest country for journalists this year, with four deaths, followed by Honduras and Mexico with three each. Two journalists were killed in Thailand, Nigeria, Somalia, Angola, Indonesia, Afghanistan and the Philippines.

Last year, the Philippines was the most dangerous country for journalists, with 33 killed.

"The killing of 42 journalists in 2010, while a decline over previous years, is still unacceptably high and reflective of the pervasive violence journalists confront around the world," Simon said.

"From Afghanistan to Mexico, Thailand to Russia, the failure of governments to investigate crimes against the press contributes to a climate of impunity that ultimately fuels further violence," Simon added.

Murder remained the leading cause of death of journalists in 2010, and combat-related cross-fire, suicide bombings and dangerous assignments claimed more lives than in past years, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

In Thailand, Reuter’s cameraman Hiro Muramoto was killed during a Bangkok protest on April 10.

Nearly 90 percent of the journalists killed in 2010 were local journalists, the group said. Those working mostly for Internet publications constituted a greater proportion of victims this year, with at least six dead, the group added.

A final tally of journalists killed in 2010 is due to be released by the group in January.

Police find cash in Pakistan players' rooms

The Pakistan Cricket Board is under pressure to suspend three senior players allegedly involved in a match-fixing scam to ensure the one-day series against England can go ahead as planned. 

 Officials from the International Cricket Council will hold talks with the PCB in London on Monday morning with the immediate futures of Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir to be decided.

Sources close to the England squad have indicated they will not be happy to play against players who are the subject of match-fixing allegations and it appears highly unlikely that Butt, Amir and Asif will feature in the five-match one-day series or two Twenty20 internationals.

The prospect of the one-day leg of the tour being cancelled quickly receded on Sunday as the gravity of the consequences of such a decision took hold.

It is a move that would cost English cricket millions of pounds in broadcast, sponsorship and ticketing revenue. But unless action is taken against those Pakistan players at the centre of Sunday’s dramatic allegations, the series would lose all credibility. Andrew Strauss, the England captain, was visibly shaken by the allegations and adamant that any players found guilty must face life bans.

“With a lot of these match-fixing allegations it is so hard to prove one way or another, which is one of the real difficulties with it, but if someone is found categorically guilty the only way is for you not to be able to play international cricket again,” he said.

“Clearly there are going to be some very strong reasons for the [one-day] series to go ahead. The ICC, the ECB and the Pakistan Cricket Board have got to put their heads together and decide what the best way forward is. As a team we have got to take stock as well.”

Extra officers from the ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit, led by the former chief constable of the RUC Sir Ronnie Flanagan, flew in to London on Sunday from their base in Dubai to liaise with detectives from Scotland Yard.

Butt faced the media flanked by Yawar Saeed, the team manager, and was repeatedly offered the opportunity to deny any involvement in fixing. He dismissed any notion of resigning and labelled the story as only “allegations”. “Anybody can stand out and say things about you, doesn’t make them true,” he said.

Saeed confirmed police had searched players’ hotel rooms on Sunday night and seized mobile phones belonging to Butt, Asif and Amir. He also stated the team would travel to Taunton on Monday for a Twenty20 warm-up match against Somerset on Thursday.

The Pakistan board had warned the team against having any involvement with Mazhar Majeed, the alleged fixer at the centre of allegation who is being questioned by police.

The Pakistan president, Asif Ali Zardari, has asked for a full report from Ijaz Butt, chairman of the PCB, and the sports minister, Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani, said: “We will take action once we get a report but I can assure you if any player is found guilty of such corruption he will be banned for life.”

Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, called for exemplary punishment to be given to any player found guilty of spot fixing. “There is a need to send out a message to youngsters that crime does not pay,” Imran said. “If any player is found guilty he should be made an example for future generations of Pakistani cricketers.”

On Sunday, the Pakistan team remained locked in their dressing room until play began at 11am. The two overnight batsmen, Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal, were given a polite round of applause when they walked through the Long Room.

The MCC had increased security around the team and concerns over the reaction of the crowd forced them to hold the post-match presentation behind closed doors in the Lord’s Long Room.

During that presentation Giles Clarke, the chairman of the ECB, handed a cheque for £5,000 to Amir as Pakistan’s player of the tournament. He did not shake hands with the young bowler and must be feeling a sense of betrayal by a team that the ECB has offered sanctuary.

Strauss did shake hands with the Pakistan team but felt an emptiness at the end of a series his team won 3-1. “We are sad, despondent, and not happy that our efforts in this Test have been overshadowed by this stuff,” he said.