Christian Liebig, of the news magazine Focus, and Julio Anguita Parrado, a colleague with the Spanish dialy El Mundo, decided not to accompany a US unit as it pushed into central Baghdad.

But they and two US soldiers with the US 3rd Infantry Division were killed when a missile impacted near an operations centre.

Liebig, who turned 35 one week ago, had worked for the magazine's foreign desk since 1999.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened" by his death, editor-in-chief Helmut Markwort said.

"He had decided on Sunday evening not to accompany a commando into central Baghdad with other journalists but to remain at the base. He and his Spanish colleague thought it was less risky."

Liebig was one of the few German journalists embedded with US forces, and had followed the 3rd Infantry Division from Kuwait into Iraq.

He was last in contact with his desk on Monday morning.

Nine journalists have died since the US-led war in Iraq began March 20.

SPACE.WIRE