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Reuters said Ukrainian cameraman Taras Protsyuk, 35, died of the wounds he received when a US tank fired a single round at Baghdad's Palestine Hotel, which is home to much of the foreign media covering the war in Baghdad, and injured five other journalists.

Reuters editor-in-chief Geert Linnebank, said in a statement: "Taras' death, and the injuries sustained by the others, were so unnecessary."

He went on to question the judgment of the US military who, he said, had known "all along that this hotel is the main base for almost all foreign journalists in Baghdad".

The second confirmed death from the Palestine Hotel attack was Spanish cameraman Jose Couso, 37.

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned both sides in the Iraq war over the deaths of reporters and says those responsible must be brought to justice.

The IFJ said it was calling for an independent international inquiry after the attack on the hotel.

Aidan White, general secretary of the IFJ, said: "There is no doubt at all that these attacks could be targeting journalists. If so, they are grave and serious violations of international law. The bombing of hotels where journalists are staying and targeting of Arab media are particularly shocking events in a war which is being fought in the name of democracy. Those who are responsible must be brought to justice."

At the same time, the IFJ said it condemned what the Iraqi tactic of using civilians and journalists as a "human shield" against allied attack. "The Baghdad authorities are just as culpable with their reckless disregard for civilian lives," White said.

The US fired on the hotel in response to an attack from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).

General Buford Blount, commander of the Third Infantry Division, said: "The tank was receiving fire from the hotel, RPG and small-arms fire, and engaged with one tank round. The firing stopped."

His death followed that of an Al Jazeera reporter this morning who died in a missile attack that injured another reporter. The US said the missile attack that killed the Al Jazeera reporter had not been intended.

News of the EU move came this morning from Greek officials, whose country currently holds the union's rotating presidency.

A Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas said the call to protect reporters came during a call between the Greek foreign minister George Papandreou and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, according to a report on the French news wire AFX.

"They agreed to make a joint representation to the United States in order to protect journalists. Greece condemns this repugnant act and expresses its sorrow and regret at the attack," Protopapas said.

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