The International Press Institute (IPI) Wednesday branded 2006 as "the most savage and brutal year in the history of the modern media," as the number of reporters killed around the world reached an unprecedented level of 100, 45 more than in the previous year.

Vienna-based IPI's World Press Freedom Review 2006 stressed that three reporters were killed in Colombia "for reporting on various issues," last year, while two others were killed in Venezuela, where "the government is undermining private media, particularly broadcasting."

According to IPI, Iraq ranked first in the world as to the number of journalists killed last year, "with 46 local reporters," twice the number of reporters killed in this country in 2005.

In the Americas, "Mexico, with seven journalists killed, remains the region's most dangerous country and Cuba, with 25 journalists imprisoned, is the biggest jailer," said IPI, which comprises media editors and directors from some 110 countries.