U.S. military frees Reuters cameraman in Iraq

By Peter Graff

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military freed a Reuters television cameraman on Thursday after holding him for three weeks in Iraq without charges.

Ali al-Mashhadani, who also works freelance for the BBC and Washington-based National Public Radio, was detained in Baghdad on July 30 while he was in the Green Zone government compound for routine checks for a U.S. military press card.

U.S. forces have detained Mashhadani twice before, at one point holding him for five months, but no charge has ever been filed against the cameraman, who is based in Ramadi, the capital of western Anbar province.

The U.S. military said at the time of his latest arrest that he was held "because he has been assessed to be a threat to the security of Iraq and coalition forces," but did not elaborate.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger said he was pleased Mashhadani was released but concerned that it was the third time he was "detained without explanation".

"If there are legitimate issues about him or any other journalist, let's have them aired openly and tested. If there are none, let them pursue their profession free from intimidation and fear."

Mashhadani's other employers expressed similar concerns.

NPR's senior foreign editor, Loren Jenkins, said: "I'm delighted that Ali has finally been released and that it turns out there was no basis for his detention. But I remain concerned that such actions can be taken against a working journalist with their reasons never being explained or justified."