Paul Conroy safe in Lebanon after Syria ordeal

Sunday Times photographer is smuggled out of Homs but William Daniel, Edith Bouvier and Javier Espinosa still remain

Paul Conroy, the British Sunday Times photographer who was wounded in the besieged city of Homs has been smuggled out of Syria and is safe in Lebanon.

Conroy arrived alone in Lebanon while efforts continue to evacuate three other reporters – the French photographer William Daniel, French reporter Edith Bouvier, and Spaniard Javier Espinosa.

Conroy had twice refused to leave the Bab Amr district of Homs without the body of his colleague, the Sunday Times correspondent, Marie Colvin, who was killed during a rocket attack last Wednesday. The group of reporters had been holed up in Bab Amr ever since and protracted negotiations to evacuate them failed.

Bouvier is the most seriously wounded of the group. Medics say she needs specialised care to avoid her leg injuries from clotting.

Attempts to broker a ceasefire in Homs have failed. Tanks from the Syrian army’s elite fourth division were on Tuesday morning reported to be close to Bad Amr after a 24th consecutive day of shelling.

from Martin Chulov

via http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/28/paul-conroy-safe-lebanon-syria