PARIS: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says that 65 journalists were killed in 2017, the lowest toll in 14 years.

According to figures released by the non-governmental organisation on Tuesday, 60 percent of the journalists who were killed were murdered.

RSF said the overall decrease is due to journalists leaving countries "that have become too dangerous." It also noted "a growing awareness of the need to protect journalists."

RSF stressed that some countries which are not at war have become as dangerous for reporters as war zones, with 46 percent of deaths occurring in such places in 2017, as against 30 percent the previous year.

Syria was the deadliest country for journalists, with 12 killed, one more than in Mexico.