In 2002, sixty-seven journalists killed while on duty worldwide, seven - in Russia

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) presented in Brussels on Friday the 2002 report of journalists and media staff killed while on duty. Judging by this yearly "grim" list, the journalistic profession remains one of the most dangerous ones in the world.

The report announces a total of 67 journalists and media staff killed either while on duty or in relation to their work. They died either in "hot spots" of the world, or while pursuing stories that expose corruption, criminal activity or violation of human rights.

Last year started "with sadness left by deaths of reporters who covered the war against Taliban in Afghanistan," said IFJ representative Sarah de Jong. Polish journalist Beata Pawlak, who was in Indonesia pursuing stories about terrorist organizations in that country, is at the end of this "gruesome" list. Recently, her charred remains were identified among the victims of the terrorist act in Bali in October.

Russia leads the IJF list with six Russian journalists and a British reporter killed while on duty. The British reporter was killed in Ingushetia in Northern Caucasus.

Columbia, Pakistan and Palestine were mentioned as countries where journalism is particularly threatened.