KUWAIT CITY, 9 April 2003 — US forces threatened to shoot at Kuwaiti Television reporter Salman Al-Otaibi and his crew, who were preparing a report on the situation of civilians in southern Iraq, Asharq Al-Awsat reported yesterday.
“An American soldier warned the reporter and his assistants that he would shoot at them if they did not leave the area immediately,” the paper said quoting Al-Otaibi. The soldier confiscated a video report from Otaibi and destroyed his mobile phone.
The Kuwaiti Television crew was in the midst of Saadoun and Fadhly tribes when it came under US threat. Several members of the two tribes had been killed and injured in attacks by American and British forces.
Al-Otaibi said the incident occurred while the team was preparing to leave for Kuwait, adding that the American forces did not help them return to the emirate. The team entered Iraq carrying ID cards distributed by the American forces, he said.
