Baghdad training project forced to close:
The Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has finally been forced to temporarily close its training project in Baghdad over fears for the safety of its journalists and students.

The team was four days into a new three-week training project with a group of Baghdad journalists, but their base in Baghdad was closed by the IWPR board when staff received intelligence about planned attacks on foreigners in the Mansour region of the city.

'What really finally pushed us out was the increase in house invasions and abductions,' said Maggy Zanger, training director for the IWPR's Iraq project.

'The threat of kidnapping from your house and possible beheading is quite intimidating. How long can one work effectively in that kind of environment?'"