Paris, 14 August {No. 96-149}- UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor today said he deplored continued violence against the press after reports that journalists from Algeria and Russia were killed.

Mohamed Kessab, 34, a journalist with Koran Radio, and his brother, a police officer, were killed Sunday in Algiers according to Le Matin and Liberte newspapers in Algeria. Ramzan Khadjiev, a Russian Public Television correspondent, died from a head wound in Chechnya, a Russian news agency said Monday.

"I deeply regret the deaths of these two journalists and the continued violence suffered by those who bravely attempt to keep us informed," Mr Mayor said. "We must recommit ourselves to support and defend a free and independent press, one of the cornerstones of a tolerant and democratic society."