Four New York Times Journalists Reported Missing In Libya

The fact that the world’s attention has turned to Japan doesn’t mean the people of Libya aren’t still dealing with Muammar Ghadafi’s “If I can’t run the country, you die” madness.

And almost as if to remind one of the West’s biggest news sources, four New York Times journalists who were posted in Libya have been reported missing.

Editors last heard from the journalists on Tuesday as they were covering the retreat of rebels from the town of Ajdabiya, and Libyan officials told the newspaper they were trying to locate the four, executive editor Bill Keller said in a statement. The Times said there were unconfirmed reports that forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi had detained the foursome.

“We are grateful to the Libyan government for their assurance that if our journalists were captured they would be released promptly and unharmed,” Keller said.

The missing journalists are Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony Shadid, the newspaper’s Beirut bureau chief; Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer; and photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario. In 2009, Farrell was kidnapped by the Taliban and later rescued by British commandos.

“Their families and their colleagues at The Times are anxiously seeking information about their situation, and praying that they are safe,” Keller said.

The White House on Wednesday urged the Libyan government to refrain from harassing or using violence against journalists. Obama spokesman Jay Carney said the United States is firm in its belief that journalists should be protected and allowed to do their work.

The advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said it was asking its correspondents in Libya to help track down the journalists’ whereabouts.

“It’s a very dangerous climate for reporters right now,” said Clothilde Le Coz, Washington director for Reporters Without Borders. “It’s a reminder that these are real people, and they are putting themselves at real risk to bring information out of these places.”

SMH.