2 journalists are first American deaths in Libya

Author Sebastian Junger, left, and Tim Hetherington are seen in a publicity shot for the Oscar-nominated documentary "Restrepo" taken in Afghanistan. / Outpost Films

Tim Hetherington, left, and Chris Hondros, two photojournalists killed in Misrata, Libya, on April 20, 2011.

/ Outpost Films/Getty Images

Tim Hetherington, best known for co-directing the Oscar-nominated documentary on the Afghanistan war "Restrepo," was killed in Libya on Wednesday while covering the conflict as a photojournalist for Panos Pictures, according to one of his other employers, Vanity Fair magazine.

Along with Hetherington, the New York Times reports that Chris Hondros, a photojournalist with Getty Images, died later from his wounds sustained in the same rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Also wounded in the incident were two other journalists: Guy Martin, working for Panos also; and Michael Christopher Brown , who has worked as a freelancer for several large publications.

Hetherington, who held dual U.S.-U.K. citizenship, and Hondros were veteran war photographers who had seen heavy fighting in several other conflicts.

The day before he died, Hetherington tweeted: "In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO."

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Misrata has been under siege for nearly two months, and human rights groups have warned the situation there is increasingly dire, as it is one of the last rebel-held cities in Western Libya.

The photographers got to the heavily contested city by sea from Benghazi, the rebel capital, according to the Times. The group had allegedly been working together near the front lines when they were struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Exchanges of fire were heard Wednesday between Libyan troops and armed residents in the city center, the Associated Press reports. NATO planes flew overhead, but did not carry out airstrikes.

Rebel fighters said government snipers have been shooting from rooftops.

While Hetherington is more widely known for his documentary film on the Afghanistan war, he is well-renowned in photojournalism circles. In 2007, he won the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year award for his work in Afghanistan. 

[Hialeahtom]

These two guys are journalists?
Heck, they are nothing more than publicity seeking, adventure seeking characters who got caught where they do not belong to, just like second grader caught - - - in **** house.

Hialeahtom

[credibility2]

Sad, but a risk given what they were doing. Journalists should be banned from covering conflicts. We don't need immediacy in the news 24/7. We should be forced to wait to hear about the failures or successes of conflicts through authorized military journalists and not civilians.

[mari1963]

Such a tragedy. Two young men who were trying to make a difference and brought us stories from the front lines. They will be missed.
God bless them and their families.

[usadvisor101]

thats war.you can only hope the leaders of the near by nations wake up! unfortunately the libyan people will see much more of it thanks to the african nations and other countries like china and russia,that have deliberately sat on their hands whistling in the air. In the end we see who really cares about libyan freedom and independence! I wish the rebels all the best and its time for the nations in the region to act!

[eiddam]

The deaths of so many in war is heart breaking, but the US has the tendency to allow atrocities by dictators, as long as the dictators obey the command, or become too old as is the case now. So out the old Arab leaders go one way, or another, and our troops, journists, innocent pay the price. -The blood lies on the hands of ones who started the deliberte, invasions, or uprisings encoueaged and, funded by the ones who will gain with the control of OIL. Democracry to the US means control. The start of uprisings in the US is for the same reason, --control for a One Party dictatorship. The Journalists are the brave to put themselves in dangers way for us to know the facts of war, that the government won't tell.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
"journaliste" le m?tier de tous les dangers,
je suis d?sol?e pour le d?c?s de ses deux journalistes, ils sont morts en h?ros, ils ?taient l? pour montrer au monde, les atrocit?s commises par Khadafi,
ainsi que tous les autres journalistes,
En plus des massacres, Khadafi a eu une conduite honteuse vis ? vis des m?dias, les journalistes, ont ?t? malmen?s, humili?s, emprisonn?s et maintenant tu?s, c'est la t?che noire de ce conflit
...................

"journalist" the art of living dangerously,
I'm sorry for the death of his two journalists, they died as heroes, they were there to show the world the atrocities committed by Gaddafi
and all other journalists,

they rest in peace, my condolences to their families

In addition to killings, Gaddafi has been a shameful conduct towards the media, journalists were manhandled, humiliated, imprisoned and killed now, it is the black spot of the conflict
"au revoir"

[tdentino]

Sad but they knew the risk.

[usadvisor101]

thats exactly right and I bet they made all kinds of money. I dont think they were there, on their own volition,or for the sake of libyan independence.now that would be impressive and truly honorable! but of interest, I think they were feeling the suffering of the libyans,to the point where THEY FELT NATO SHOULD BE ON THE GROUND!

[karlimhof]

Condolences to their families. War zones are not safe places.

We may start to hear the "save the maine" voices, but i hope they'll be ignored.

this is part of the arab world's revolution, they have to it alone.

[joanna58]

what a horrific loss of two extraordinary lives. deepest condolences to the families of these brave men, whose impact on this world shall not be forgotten.

[jd2408]

My sincere sympathy goes out to the family and friends of these brave journalist. Not only are journalist vital in keeping Americans informed but important in helping us know if our politicians are telling us the truth. Thank you for your sacrifice. RIP.