In a statement from its London headquarters, it added that another three of its journalists in the hotel had also been injured. They were among 18 Reuters journalists in Baghdad.

"Taras's death, and the injuries sustained by the others, were so unnecessary," said Reuters ditor in chief Geert Linnebank.

He called into question the "judgement of advancing US troops who have known all along that this hotel is the main base for almost all foreign journalists in Baghdad."

Jose Couso, a cameraman with the Spanish television channel Telecinco, was also wounded in the leg and jaw in the incident, Telecinco announced during a morning current affairs program.

SPACE.WIRE