Swedish journalist shot dead in Afghanistan

TALOQAN - A Swedish cameraman has been shot dead in the northern Afghan city of Taloqan, held by the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance, colleagues said.

They said half a dozen gunmen had broken into the house where the cameraman and his colleagues were staying at about 2am today (10 am NZT), apparently looking for satellite telephones and money.

The cameraman woke up, opened the bedroom door and slammed it shut again when he saw the gunmen. They fired through the door, hitting him at least once in the chest.

The name of the cameraman and the organisation he worked for were not immediately known.

He was the eighth journalist to be killed in Afghanistan since the United States launched its campaign against the hardline Taleban militia and Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

- REUTERS

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