Two award-winning war photographers are among Misrata’s latest victims. They were killed after being caught in a rocket-propelled grenade attack. Two other journalists in their group were injured.

Tim Hetherington, a 40-year-old British-American, was working in Libya for the US magazine Vanity Fair. He was best known for his work in Afghanistan.

His Oscar-nominated documentary ‘Restrepo’ focused on a platoon of American soldiers in a remote and dangerous Afghan outpost.

Hetherington was praised for his apolitical approach. Friends say he was respected for his bravery and camaraderie.

American photographer Chris Hondros, who was also killed, had won multiple awards while covering several conflicts.

His employer, Getty Images, said he “never shied away from the front line”.

Reports say their group was attacked by government forces. Tripoli says it will investigate.

“Listen, we don’t kill anyone who does not fight us,” said Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. “We need to check the circumstances in which the journalists died. And it is war; of course, people die from our side and from their side. People get caught in the middle. We don’t know the circumstance. We need to check the circumstance. But of course we are very sad that someone died.”

On Twitter recently Tim Hetherington described “indiscriminate shelling” in Misrata, saying there was “no sign of NATO”.

The two photographers injured in the attack with shrapnel wounds were Briton Guy Martin, and American Michael Christopher Brown.

At least four journalists have been killed covering the Libyan conflict.

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