EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned the death of a French reporter in an explosion in Syria on Wednesday and demanded an immediate investigation into this incident.
Gilles Jacquier, 43, of France 2 television was killed earlier in the day after a rocket-propelled grenade landed among a group of journalists covering a demonstration in Syria's city of Homs.
A group of 15 foreign journalists were on a government-sponsored trip to the city when they were hit by the explosion. A Belgian radio reporter and a Dutch freelance photographer were also injured in the explosion.
Ashton called for "a rapid investigation to clarify the circumstances leading to this tragedy," and stressed that Syrian authorities "have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists in their country."
Ashton’s spokesperson issued a statement in which she reiterated her "call for an immediate end to violence in Syria."
"She is concerned by the recent escalation of violence in the country. The High Representative calls for a rapid investigation to clarify the circumstances leading to this tragedy. The Syrian authorities have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists in their country. The press must be allowed to carry out its vital role of providing independent information on events in Syria without fear of violence or repression."
Jacquier, who had covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Israel, is the first Western journalist to be killed in Syria since anti-Assad regime demonstrations started in this country 10 months ago.
French President Nicholas Sarkozy paid tribute to the deceased journalist and said his government expects "Syrian authorities to to shed light on the death of a man who was simply doing his job."