An
employment tribunal at which former ABC News London correspondnent
Richard Gizbert will claim he was sacked for refusing to cover the Iraq
war has been delayed for a third time until 23 September.
Gizbert
first filed his case in October last year. The tribunal has now called
for more time for the proceedings and for key witnesses to appear in
person.
The journalist aims to prove that ABC News dismissed him
after 11 years with the company because he refused to risk his life by
going to Iraq. He is claiming £2.2m in compensation.
Gizbert
said: “This case is not just about me. Many news organisations are
having difficulty finding reporters to cover this war, especially since
westerners have become targets of bombings and abductions.”
Martin Bell, the former BBC war correspondent and MP, will appear as an expert witness on Gizbert’s behalf.
An
ABC spokesman said its journalists were not forced to cover wars: “All
war zones are completely voluntary and we understand that this will be
shown in this case.”
The hearing is set to last six days.
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