2 Japanese bagged in Baghdad

[Taro Toporific]

Japanese journalists attacked in Baghdad suburb
TOKYO, May 28, Kyodo -
A vehicle carrying two Japanese said to be journalists came under attack in a Baghdad suburb on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said early Friday...

[Captain Japan]

This story suggests one died:

Japan's foreign ministry said it was checking information that two Japanese nationals had been attacked near Baghdad as news reports said at least one had died in shooting.

[Taro Toporific]

This story suggests one died:

Japan's foreign ministry said it was checking information that two Japanese nationals had been attacked near Baghdad as news reports said at least one had died in shooting.

Obviously, the Japan Press is hiding in a closet of the Baghdad Sheraton. However, the news reports seem VERY vague and spotty. NHK was showing maps of NORTH Iraq when reporting this on the morning TV news but Kyodo and AP are saying "Baghdad suburbs". Everyone is reporting on what they heard from "other" reports. Sheesh.

Car with Japanese Attacked in Iraq, One Feared DeadThu May 27, 2004 10:24 PM ET (11:25am JST)
TOKYO (Reuters)- Gunmen attacked a car carrying two Japanese freelance journalists in Iraq and media reports said on Friday that one of the four people in the ...

[Captain Japan]

Obviously, the Japan Press is hiding in a closet of the Baghdad Sheraton. However, the news reports seem VERY vague and spotty. NHK was showing maps of NORTH Iraq when reporting this on the morning TV news but Kyodo and AP are saying "Baghdad suburbs". Everyone is reporting on what they heard from "other" reports. Sheesh.

Well, Thursday's IHT had an interesting article ripping on the Japanese media, the kisha clubs, etc. Specifically it said: "Not one reporter from Japan's major news media is covering events in Samawah, where Japanese troops are engaged in their most important military mission since World War II. Reporters for Japan's major newspapers and television networks left Samawah en masse in mid-April, mostly out of safety concerns."

It goes on to talk about how they now just report what the J-gov feeds them since they aren't on the spot. But to me, even if they still were in the area they'd still report just what the J-gov feeds them.

Samawah isn't all that close to Bagdad (where I guess this shooting took place) but the fact that no real news on this incident is out isn't all that surprising.

[Taro Toporific]

...the fact that no real news on this incident is out isn't all that surprising.

NHK TV finally had "reports" about this at 7pm from in front of the closet of the Baghdad Sheraton.

Bodies in Iraq Identified As Japanese
Guardian - 28 May
TOKYO (AP) - Gunmen attacked a car carrying two Japanese journalists in Iraq and the vehicle burst into flames, Japan's Foreign Ministry said Friday. Two bodies were found at the scene, and hospital officials identified them as Japanese.