Whereabouts of journalist wounded in Syria unconfirmed

The fate of French journalist Edith Bouvier who was wounded in Syria is unclear after conflicting reports about whether or not she has been smuggled out of Homs.

British photographer Paul Conroy, who was also hurt, has left the besieged city.

However, neither the French government nor the paper she works for, Le Figaro, can confirm what has happened to Bouvier.

Conroy has been covertly taken to neighbouring Lebanon, and Bouvier may be there too.

Both were hurt in an attack in Homs last Wednesday, during which two other foreign journalists were killed – American Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik.

Deadly daily bombardment of the city continues despite Sunday’s referendum.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has not been swayed by the vote.

“We have gone beyond the limits of barbarity. The numbers, authenticated by international organisations, show that there’ve been around 8,000 deaths. Hundreds of children have been killed, even tortured.

“And when I see the Syrian president parading around this voting station in Damascus for this phoney referendum, it is a profound indignation we feel, all of us who see this spectacle,” said Juppe.

Official figures show almost 90 per cent of voters approved a new constitution backing President Bashar al-Assad to introduce political reform.

The opposition boycotted the poll.

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