Photographer Tim Hetherington killed in Libya

Oscar-nominated British photographer and filmmaker Tim Hetherington has been killed while covering the conflict in Libya

A highly acclaimed British war photographer has been killed in a mortar attack by forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi inside the besieged city of Misrata.

Tim Hetherington died after taking shelter against a wall, which came under mortar fire. The 40-year-old was taken to hospital while clashes continued between Col Gaddafi’s forces and Libyan rebels. He tragically died shortly after arrival.

Writing on his Twitter profile on Tuesday night, Tim said: ‘In besieged Libya city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Gaddafi forces. No sign of Nato.’

New York based photographer Chris Hondros of Getty Images was also killed in the attack, and Briton Guy Martin and Michael Brown of The New York Times are recovering in hospital.

Mr Hetherington from Liverpool was best known for his Oscar-nominated documentary, Restrepo, which followed a US platoon in Afghanistan. The photojournalist has worked on a number of stories for Marie Claire over the years.

Deputy Editor of Marie Claire, Charlotte Moore, says: 'Tim had an amazing ability to capture human emotion in his pictures. He was an incredible photographer who immersed himself in the stories he told. It was an honour to have him work for Marie Claire. He will be greatly missed as a colleague, and as a friend.'

Britain’s plans to follow in Italy and France’s footsteps by sending ten military officers out to advise anti-Gaddafi rebels was yesterday criticised by Libya’s foreign minister. Abdul Ati al-Obeidi says the plan would only prolong the fighting.

Tim is the third journalist to have been killed in Libya since the conflict began in January.

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