Award-Winning 'New York Times' Correspondent Dies In Syria

"New York Times" reporter Anthony Shadid

An award-winning "New York Times" correspondent, who had covered Middle East turmoil for more than two decades, has died in eastern Syria from an apparent asthma attack.

"The New York Times" reported that Anthony Shadid had sneaked into Syria to report on the ongoing uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The asthma attack was apparently caused by horses used by his guides in Syria.

Shadid, a 43-year-old American of Lebanese descent, won two Pulitzer Prizes -- the highest U.S. honor for journalism -- for his coverage of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the war's chaotic aftermath.

Shadid, "New York Times" photographer Taylor Hicks, and two other "Times" journalists were held for more than a week last year by pro-government militia in Libya during the rebellion against longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi.

Hicks, who was traveling with Shadid, took his colleague's body to neighboring Turkey.

Compiled from agency reports