Armed men assassinate reporter of Syria's official SANA news agency

DAMASCUS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- An armed group assassinated Saturday a Syrian journalist who worked for the state-run SANA news agency, the state TV said.

Ali Abbas was shot dead Saturday at his house in Damascus' suburb of Jdaidet Artos, said the TV.

The assassination of Abbas is the latest in a string of assaults that have been targeting journalists and staffers of Syria's official and pro-government media.

In mid-July, Mohammad Saeed, a news presenter in the state TV, was kidnapped from his house in Jdaidet Artos and later declared killed by an al-Qaida-linked group.

On Friday, four staffers of the pro-government al-Ekhbaria TV were kidnapped while covering unrest in the Damascus countryside of Tal Mneen.

Last week, a blast rocked the state TV headquarters in the capital Damascus, leaving injuries only.

Last month, a group of armed insurgents stormed the al-Ekhbaria TV headquarters in Drosha suburb near Damascus, leaving scenes of carnage and destruction.

Syria accused the armed elements of kidnapping and killing state media workers in a bid to "mute the voice of Syrians." Enditem