A British photographer injured in the Syrian rebel city of Homs issued a video message yesterday saying that he was safe but asking for “government agencies” to help him.

Paul Conroy, who works for Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper, was hurt in the same rocket attack that killed his American colleague Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik on Wednesday.

The Foreign Office in London has said it is working to repatriate Ms Colvin’s body and to help Mr Conroy reach safety.

The video, posted on YouTube and broadcast on British TV, shows the 47-year-old photographer lying on a makeshift bed of blankets and cushions in a windowless room, with what looks like a drip in his right hand.

“I was wounded in a rocket attack yesterday – three large wounds to my leg. My colleague Marie Colvin was also killed in the same attack,” Mr Conroy said.

“I’m currently being looked after by the Free Syrian Army medical staff, who are treating me with the best medical treatment available. It’s important to add that I am here as a guest and have not been captured. Obviously any assistance I can be given by government agencies would be welcome.”

French reporters Edith Bouvier, who works for the French daily Le Figaro, and William Daniels also issued video pleas from inside Syria yesterday.

Britain summoned Syria’s ambassador to London on Wednesday to demand that Syrian authorities facilitate immediate arrangements for the repatriation of the dead journalists’ bodies.

as well as medical treatment for Conroy.

Rupert Murdoch, whose US-based News Corporation owns The Sunday Times, emailed staff on Wednesday saying: “We are doing all we can in the face of shelling and sniper fire to get him to safety and to recover Marie’s body.”

bur-ar/dk/fz