The opposition Syrian National Council accused the regime yesterday of “liquidating” journalists in order to hush up what is happening in the country, a day after a French reporter was killed.

State news agency Sana said Syria would set up a commission of inquiry to probe the death of Gilles Jacquier, who was killed on Wednesday during a government-organised trip to the flashpoint city of Homs.

The award-winning Jacquier, 43, was the first Western reporter to die in Syria since anti-regime protests erupted in mid-March last year.

An AFP photographer said he was killed when a shell exploded among some 15 journalists covering demonstrations in Homs. Eight Syrians were also killed, according to Sana, and several other people were wounded.

France called on the Syrian authorities to investigate the circumstances of Mr Jacquier’s death shortly after the attack, which was described by French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe as an “odious act.”

The opposition SNC denounced the “murder” saying it was a “dangerous sign that the authorities have decided to physically liquidate journalists in an attempt to silence neutral and independent media.”

Anti-regime activists in Homs also said the authorities had orchestrated the attack, while state TV blamed “a terrorist group” that had opened fire on the journalists and regime supporters.

Wissam Tarif, an Arab campaigner with international activist non-governmental organisation Avaaz, also disputed the government’s claims.