The Director-General of UNESCO, Bulgarian Irina Bokova, has criticized NATO's attack on Libyan State broadcasting facilities on 30 July as unacceptable.

Bokova is condemning the death of three media workers in the air strike against Al Jamahiriya TV which also left 21 people injured.

"I deplore the NATO strike on Al-Jamahiriya and its installations," the Director-General said in a special statement. "Media outlets should not be targeted in military actions. UN Security Council Resolution 1738 (2006) condemns acts of violence against journalists and media personnel in conflict situations.

"The NATO strike is also contrary to the principles of the Geneva Conventions that establish the civilian status of journalists in times of war even when they engage in propaganda. Silencing the media is never a solution. Fostering independent and pluralistic media is the only way to enable people to form their own opinion," Irina Bokova concluded.

NATO for its part issued a statement claiming that the strike was conducted in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorizes the military action in Libya. The Alliance insists the strikes aimed at making it impossible for Libyan Dictator Muamar Gaddafi to use the media to threaten the rebels and instigate violence.

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