Syria has been labelled 'the most dangerous place in the world'for journalists after Japanese reporter Mika Yamamota was killed amid fighting in Aleppo.
Yamamoto, 45, was an experienced war reporter who had covered conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq for Japan Press.
Her death brings the total number of journalists killed in Syria in 2012 to 15, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
CPJ executive director Joel Simon said: 'We mourn the loss of our colleague Mika Yamamoto and send our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
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'Syria has become the most dangerous place in the world for both local and international journalists."
In February, Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin and French photographer Rémi Ochlik were both killed when their makeshift press centre in Homs was hit by shelling from Syrian forces.
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A month earlier Giles Jacquier, a French broadcast reporter, was killed by hostile fire whilst reporting on a rally, also in Homs.
Journalists killed in Syria since January 2012 (source: Committee to Protect Journalists):
- Mika Yamamoto, 45, Japanese reporter for Japan Press, killed 20 August 2012 in Aleppo.
- Hatem Abu Yehia, camera operator for pro-government TV station Al-Ikhbariya, killed 10 August 2012 in Al-Tal.
- Mohammad Shamma, technician for pro-government TV station Al-Ikhbariya, killed 27 June 2012 in Doursha.
- Sami Abu Amin, 30, reporter for pro-government TV station Al-Ikhbariya, killed 27 June 2012 in Doursha.
- Ahmed al-Assam, 21, freelance camera operator, killed 28 May 2012 in Homs.
- Bassel al-Shahade, 28, freelance camera operator, killed 28 May 2012 in Homs.
- Ahmed Adnan al-Ashlaq, camera operator for Shaam News Network, killed 27 May 2012 in Damascus.
- Lawrence Fahmy al-Naimi, head of live streaming for Shaam News Network, killed 27 May 2012 in Damascus.
- Ammar Mohamed Suhail Zado, director of Shaam News Network, killed 27 May 2012 in Damascus.
- Anas al-Tarsha, 17, freelance camera operator, killed 24 February 2012 in Homs.
- Rémi Ochlik, 28, French freelance photojournalist, killed 22 February 2012 in Homs.
- Marie Colvin, 56, American foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times, killed 22 February 2012 in Homs.
- Rami al-Sayed, 26, freelance camera operator, killed 21 February 2012 in Homs.
- Mazhar Tayyara, 24, camera operator who contributed to Agence France-Presse and other international outlets, killed 4 February 2012 in Homs.
- Gilles Jacquier, 43, French reporter for TV station France2 , killed 11 January 2012 in Homs.
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