France's U.N. ambassador, prompted by the deaths of 75 journalists in conflict zones over the past year, on Tuesday proposed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution to protect reporters. "We have been working with Greece for some time on the draft," Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said after the council meeting, adding that the draft was supported by Denmark and U.N. humanitarian coordinator Jan Egeland. "We have to focus on this issue now. By highlighting this problem in the council and having regular reports, we hope we are going in the right direction," de la Sabliere told reporters. Members of the media, acting as the world's witnesses to atrocities and humanitarian needs, alerting all of us to our responsibilities, have also been increasingly subject to attack, Jan Egeland told the council on Monday in his briefing on the protection of civilians. In Iraq alone, 26 journalists have been killed this year. The draft, obtained by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) would recognize the impact that deliberate attacks and other acts of violence against journalists have on the exercise of freedom of expression and the free flow of information and urge all parties involved in conflict to respect the professional independence and rights of journalists. De la Sabliere told reporters that he hoped the draft would be swiftly passed this week.
