Syria: Wounded British journalist escapes to Lebanon

BRITISH journalist Paul Conroy is “in good spirits” after escaping yesterday from the besieged Syrian city of Homs.The photographer was injured last week in the attack which killed Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik.

Mr Conroy, 47, from Totnes, Devon, suffered three large wounds to his leg when the media centre where the journalists were working was shelled by Syrian government forces on 22 February.

The freelance photographer and film-maker was smuggled out of Homs by Syrian rebels and whisked across the border to Lebanon.

His wife, Kate, said in a statement: “I have spoken to Paul and he sounded in good spirits. The family are overjoyed and relieved that he is safe and look forward to getting him home.”

Mr Conroy’s father, Les, added: “We’re all very relieved and happy that Paul’s out.”

The opposition group Local Co-ordination Committees and the activist group Avaaz said that Mr Conroy was smuggled out of Homs in an operation involving a team of 35 Syrian army defectors.

Avaaz said three rebels were killed in government shelling while trying to help Mr Conroy through the neighbourhood and ten others were killed trying to bring in aid while the journalist was on his way out.

Last night it was unclear whether French reporter Edith Bouvier, of Le Figaro newspaper, who also suffered multiple leg fractures in the incident, had been evacuated.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy had to retract an assurance that she was safe, her employer reported.

The newspaper quoted him saying: “The information we are receiving is extremely complex to analyse. It is not confirmed that Mrs Bouvier is today in safety in Lebanon.

“It is true that we are working on this evacuation… Earlier I was imprecise and I apologise.”

Ms Colvin, 56, was killed after defying an order from her editor to leave the city because she wanted to finish “one more story”, her mother Rosemarie told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.