Rome (ANTARA News/AFP) - A journalist working for the Italian daily La Stampa has not been heard from since April 9, the paper said Monday.

Domenico Quirico entered Syria from Lebanon on April 6, after which he was in touch by telephone or voicemail for four days, but there has been no contact since April 9, editor Mario Calabresi wrote on the paper`s website.

The 62-year-old journalist has long experience in conflict zones, having covered stories in Libya, Sudan and Mali.

The paper did not announce the disappearance immediately, saying it wanted to "avoid attracting attention to Domenico in a zone with a high risk of kidnapping".(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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