Over the years much of the subject matter of this column has revolved around the struggle for human rights

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Over the years, much of the subject matter of this column has revolved around the struggle for human rights. I've written more about Africa on these pages than anywhere else. From today onwards, I won't be doing that here.This is my last column. In the wake of the Hutton report, the BBC has decided that its correspondents can no longer write columns for national newspapers. To those who have written to me over the years to agree or disagree, many thanks.

A lot of the letter writers have been people involved in human rights work. To those who devote their lives to the pursuit of the principles of human rights, I have one last message. I may not be with you in print but I will still be telling your stories on radio and television In mind, heart and soul, your struggles are my inspiration Goodbye.The writer is a BBC Special Correspondent. Over the suburban Baghdad street in which Dr Hazem al-Ani lived and died hangs a black cotton banner.

Five evenings ago, two cars pulled up in Kaat Abla Street, five men in each. One man got out of each car and entered the doctor's surgery It was 10 past eight They walked into the surgery, patients so they claimed. And when the much-loved doctor looked up to greet them, they shot him dead."He was still sitting in his chair behind his desk," Dr al-Ani's brother, Hashem, said. "He had three bullets fired into his face, one into his chest There was blood. He didn't cry out, but his family were next door and they heard the shots. Some of the neighbours here had been suspicious of the cars, one of which parked at one end of the street.