According to activists with the opposition in Homs, Syria, two Western journalists have died when the building they were in was hit by heavy shelling Wednesday. The journalists were in a temporary media center in the Baba Amr neighborhood when it was hit by artillery shells.
Homs has been under an almost continuous bombardment for the last few days. Because of the intense shelling, activists say that they have not been able to dig into the rubble that fell on the journalists, as well as six other people. The damage inflicted by Assad’s regime on the city can be seen on videos posted to YouTube by the opposition.
The journalists are believed to be Remi Ochlik, who is a photojournalist from France, and Marie Colvin, an American reporter who works for British newspaper, The Times. Several media outlets are trying to verify the identities of the journalists, as well as what has happened to them. It’s hard to confirm anything coming out of the country because President Assad has banned most foreign journalists from the country. Both Ochlik and Colvin have been covering the Arab World uprisings and are veteran war correspondents.
There are also reports coming in that Rami al-Said, who has posted up horrific images of what is happening in Baba Amr at the hands of Assad’s regime, has also died in the shelling in Homs. Al-Said is a well-known video blogger and Syrian opposition activist. According to other opposition activists, there were at least 45 people killed yesterday alone.
Three other journalists are believed to have been injured in the bombing. According to opposition reports, one is critically injured; however, there has not been any medical care that can reach the wounded because of the bombing. The Red Cross urged both sides to agree to daily cease fires so that aid can be provided, such as medical care, supplies, food, and other necessities.
