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BEIRUT: Two wounded western journalists, Paul Conroy from Britain and France’s Edith Bouvier, have safely crossed into Lebanon from the besieged Syrian rebel city of Homs, a Lebanese official said on Tuesday.
An international NGO, Avaaz, said three activists were killed in a rescue operation for the journalists.
“The two journalists, Edith Bouvier and Paul Conroy, arrived overnight in Lebanon and they are safe,” the Lebanese official told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
“Paul Conroy is at the British embassy and in good condition. Edith Bouvier is also here in Lebanon. We have no information as to where she is exactly,” the official said.
The Foreign Office in London said Mr Conroy, a freelance photographer, was “receiving full consular assistance from our embassy”.
Both journalists were wounded in a February 22 rocket attack on a makeshift media centre in Baba Amr, a rebel stronghold in the central Syrian city of Homs, in which US veteran reporter Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed.
Two other journalists trapped in Homs are William Daniels, a photographer who also was on assignment for Le Figaro, and Spaniard Javier Espinosa who works for the Spanish daily El Mundo.
Mr Conroy’s employers, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper, said he was “in good shape and good spirits” following his escape.
Wissam Tarif of Avaaz said his organisation coordinated the rescue together with Syrian activists.
“Avaaz coordinated with Syrian activists Conroy’s exit from Homs and his arrival in Lebanon,” Mr Tarif said in Beirut.
The Syrian Red Crescent, meanwhile, said its rescuers left Homs on Tuesday after talks to evacuate the journalists foundered.
A total of 13 activists were killed trying to assist the western journalists and to bring in aid to Baba Amr, according to Avaaz.
“Today, a network of Syrian activists coordinated by the global campaign organisation Avaaz helped the international journalist Paul Conroy escape into Lebanon,” Avaaz said.
“Three activists were killed by Syrian targeted shelling as they tried to assist the journalists through Baba Amr,” Avaaz said.
“While Paul Conroy successfully escaped the city, 10 activists died bringing relief supplies into Baba Amr,” the NGO added.—AFP
