French TV station wins 'fake film' case

A FRENCH television company yesterday won a libel case over accusations that it faked a report into the killing of a Palestinian boy whose death in 2000 became a symbol of the uprising known as the second intifada.

A court in Paris ordered Philippe Karsenty, the director of the Media Ratings website, to pay France 2 and its Israel correspondent, Charles Enderlin, symbolic damages of 1 each.

"Hopefully, this decision will end a campaign of defamation that is particularly dangerous because it affects those with a duty to inform the public," Benedicte Amblard, a lawyer for France 2, said after the ruling.

Mr Karsenty, who was also fined 1,000 (670) and told to pay legal costs of 3,000, said: "It is a very sombre day for France. We are going to appeal."

Media Ratings accused France2 of using staged footage in a report on the death of Mohammed al-Durra, 12 ,

which accused Israeli troops of shooting the boy as he took cover with his father during a gun battle between Israelis and Palestinians.

Harrowing footage showing the pair crouching in terror behind a wall apparently seconds before he was shot, was screened around the world.

The Israeli army initially apologised for the boy's death, but later said Palestinian gunfire had probably killed him.