“The scale of attacks on journalists marks a continuing crisis filled with unlimited human tragedy and relentless attacks on press freedom,” said Jim Boumelha, President of the Brussels-based IFJ.

“Violence against journalists remains at extremely high levels for the third year in a row,” he added.

In Iraq, which has been the deadliest country for journalists since the US invasion in 2003, at least 65 journalists and media staff were killed in 2007, according to the group.

All but one of those are believed to be Iraqi nationals, according to the findings of the annual report.

Conflict-hit Somalia (eight journalists dead) and Pakistan (seven) were also very dangerous workplaces for journalists last year.

Other hotspots included Mexico (six) Sri Lanka (six) and the Philippines (five).

In all the IFJ listed 171 journalists and other media workers killed by violence or in accidents throughout the year. That toll was slightly lower than 2006’s 177 dead, according to the figures compiled in co-operation with the International News Safety Institute.

In 2006, the group recorded 155 killings and 22 accidental deaths.

Boumelha called for more action from the international community to bring the killers to justice and to “eliminate fear and danger from the profession of journalism”.