Frédéric Nérac (1960 – unknown, declared dead 21 October 2005) was a French journalist, reported missing in Iraq since 22 March 2003.[1] On 21 October 2005 he was officially declared dead in absentia, though no body has been found.
Frédéric Nérac | |
---|---|
Born | 1960 |
Disappeared | 22 March 2003 (aged 43–44) Iraq |
Status | Missing for 21 years, 2 months and 5 days, and now declared dead in dead in absentia |
Nationality | French |
Occupation | journalist |
Spouse | Fabienne Nerac |
Background
Frédéric Nérac was covering the Invasion of Iraq for the UK-based ITN television network as an unembedded journalist, as opposed to journalists "embedded" with US or UK military units.[citation needed]
On 22 March 2003, in Bassora, two ITN vehicles were captured in crossfire between US and Iraqi forces. One of the vehicles, carrying Terry Lloyd and Daniel Demoustier, was destroyed. The second vehicle, carrying Nérac, apparently managed to escape to cover, and disappeared. British forces and French officials investigated the area; US authorities were reported to be unhelpful in the search.[citation needed]
On 21 October 2005, Nérac was declared dead by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[2] In 2006, citing an anonymous diplomatic source, Georges Malbrunot said that he believed that Nérac had been executed by Ba'athists and buried in the Az Zubayr cemetery.[3]
See also
References
External links
- (in French) Web site about the disappearance of Frédéric Nérac Archived 16 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine (Photographs)
- Eighteen months after Fred Nérac went missing in Iraq, Reporters Without Borders urges the UK to hand its inquiry report to the family and French authorities, Reporters sans frontières.
- Two Missing ITV Journalists Were Killed By US Troops Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, by Tom Newton Dunn, The Mirror.
- Incident Account by Daniel Demoustier