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Two Journalists Killed in Libya

Tasbeeh Herwees |
April 20, 2011 | 10:38 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros have been killed in Misrata, Libya while covering the ongoing conflict on Wednesday. 

Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington
Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington

Colleague Andre Liohn, from a Misrata hospital, had reported earlier on his Facebook page that Hetherington had died and that Hondros was in critical condition. New York Times reporter C.J. Chivers later confirmed the news, reporting that Hondros had entered a coma after suffering from severe injuries to the head. He died hours later. 

Two other journalists, Guy Martin and Michael Brown, also suffered injuries but they are recovering.

The journalists were covering the events in the Libyan city of Misrata, which has been under constant bombardment of artillery fire by Gaddafi forces. 

Hetherington, best known for his work on the war documentary 'Restrepo', last updated his Twitter feed last night from the city. “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO,” he wrote.

He was an award-winning photographer and filmmaker. Hetherington's work has appeared in Vanity Fair, Newsweek, the New York Times and the Economist. In 2010, his film Restrepo won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He was also nominated for an Oscar for the film. 

Hondros was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for photos he took of the civil war in Liberia. His photo essays of the turmoil in Iraq received worldwide acclaim and earned him the title of “Hero of Photography” by American Photo magazine. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and Newsweek. 

Hondros' last published work could be seen on his Wall Street Journal blog, where he posted up photos of the fighting in Misrata. 

Colleagues took to Twitter to remember their colleagues. New York Times correspondent Lydia Polgreen wrote, "Time (sic) Hetherington was a giant. I first met him in Liberia, where he spent years with his Hasselblad documenting a story nobody cared about. But he had an extraordinary dedication and produced a remarkable book about Liberia, Long Story, Bit by Bit."

BBC News Producer Stuart Hughes also tweeted his grief: "A horrible day. RIP Tim + Chris - I'll give my 4 yr old, Billy, an extra kiss tonight when I check on him tonight bc I'm still here."

Hetherington's family released a statement early Wednesday confirming his death. "Tim was in Libya to continue his ongoing multimedia project to highlight humanitarian issues during time of war and conflict. He will be forever missed."

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