Nearly three quarters of the journalists killed in 2016 were victims of "deliberate, targeted violence," Reporters Without Borders said yesterday.

At least 74 professional and non-professional journalists lost their lives in connection with their work, according to the charity's annual report.

It said that Syria, where 19 journalists were killed this year, was the world's most deadliest country for journalists to work in.

Afghanistan, where 10 journalists have been killed, was listed as the second deadliest, followed by Mexico, where nine journalists lost their lives.

Among the dead is 19-year-old Osama Jumaa, a photojournalist for the British news agency Images Live, who was killed on June 5 while covering a rescue operation in Aleppo.

The Syrian conflict is particularly dangerous to cover due to constant, indiscriminate shelling, as well as the risk of being detained by the Syrian regime or kidnapped by jihadist groups.