International rights groups yesterday condemned the killing of Al Jazeera cameraman Ali Hassan al-Jaber in Libya and warned of a campaign of attacks targeting journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was "outraged” by Saturday’s killing of Jaber, a Qatari national, who was returning to the rebel bastion of Benghazi after reporting in a nearby town when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his car. "Even if those responsible have not yet been identified, this appalling act is clearly not a random event,” the press freedom watchdog said. "It appears that the Al Jazeera team was brutally and deliberately targeted,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa director. "Coming so soon after the detention and torture by (regime) forces of three BBC staff - who were subjected to beatings and mock executions - and the detention of other journalists, this killing is most disturbing,” he added. "The regime does not hesitate to use brutal methods to prevent them from working freely and reporting what is really happening, so that they do not contradict the image it wants to present to the world,” RSF said. Amnesty said "those responsible for the killing of Ali Hassan al-Jaber must be held accountable for their actions.” "Jaber’s death is a reminder of the dangers journalists run in order to cover armed conflicts,” RSF said. Jaber, in his 50s, was hit by three bullets, and "all attempts to save his life failed,” Al Jazeera said. Correspondent Nasser al-Haddar was also wounded "after they came under sustained gunfire.” "Al Jazeera condemns the cowardly crime, which comes as part of the Libyan regime’s malicious campaign targeting Al Jazeera and its staff,” the channel said. The Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York, said that apart from the killing of Jaber it has documented more than 40 attacks on the press since an uprising in Libya erupted on February 15. The attacks include 25 detentions, five assaults, two attacks on news facilities, the jamming of Al Jazeera and Al-Hurra satellite channels, at least three instances of obstruction, and the interruption of Internet services. "At least six local journalists are unaccounted for,” it said.