71 journalists killed in first half of 2015: report

GENEVA - A total of 71 journalists were killed from January to June of 2015 in 24 countries, a 7-percent increase compared with the same period last year, a report released Thursday by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said.

According to the report, at least 24 journalists were killed in targeted terrorist acts, mostly in France, Libya and Iraq, and around 17 journalists died accidentally covering fighting in Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria, South Sudan and Ukraine.

The other 30 journalists were murdered in criminal acts outside war zones, especially in Latin America, Philippines and India, the report said.

According to the report, the Middle East and North Africa are the deadliest regions for media work with 23 journalists killed.

"Four countries in this region are the deadliest: Libya 8, Yemen 6, Iraq 6 and Syria 2 with one in Gaza," the report said, adding that with less and less journalists are taking risk to cover Syria because of the extreme dangers, it has became a "prohibited area."

Latin America follows the Middle East with 17 journalists killed in seven countries, especially in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

According to the report, Europe comes in third place with 13 killed and it is the first time that Europe lost so many journalists since the war in ex-Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

Eight journalists were killed during the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, and another four in Ukraine, with one more journalist killed in an isolated crime in Poland.

Africa is in fourth place with nine journalists killed mainly due to the war in South Sudan where six journalists were killed, five of them ambushed to death together.

In an earlier report, PEC said the year 2014 has become the second deadliest year for journalists over ten years with at least 138 journalists killed by the end of the year.

Founded in June 2004 and based in Geneva, PEC says it aims to strengthen the legal protection and safety of journalists in zones of conflict and civil unrest or in dangerous missions.