Red Cross moves bodies of Colvin and Ochlik after hand-over

The body of an American journalist killed in Syria was being taken to Damascus last night after being handed over by the Syrian authorities, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

The bodies of Marie Colvin, who worked for the Sunday Times, and French photographer Remi Ochlik, killed in a rocket attack in the besieged neighbourhood of Baba Amr in the city of Homs last week, were en route to the Syrian capital, the charity said.

Two French journalists evacuated from Homs were, meanwhile, welcomed home by French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Freelancer Edith Bouvier, whose femur was shattered during the shelling of Baba Amr, was lowered carefully from a government plane that was sent to fetch the pair after rebels smuggled them over the border into Lebanon on Thursday night.

Photographer William Daniels smiled and looked relieved as he left the plane unaided.

The rescue ended a nine-day ordeal for Ms Bouvier, who was injured in the same bombardment that killed Mr Ochlik and Ms Colvin.

Mr Sarkozy praised Ms Bouvier’s courage. In brief remarks before the pair descended from the plane, Mr Sarkozy also criticised the Syrian authorities. He said: “The Syrian auhorities will have to answer to international legal authorities for their crimes. The crimes they committed will not go unpunished.”