Somalia shutters 3 radio stations

2008-03-03 07:28

Mogadishu - Somali government soldiers raided three independent radio stations in the capital on Sunday, seizing equipment, forcing the stations off the air and arresting one journalist.

The raids came a day after at least 14 people died and 30 were wounded in fighting that pitted government soldiers and their Ethiopian allies against insurgents.

"The troops came in, took our equipment and arrested our boss without explanation. We do not know why they are targeting us," Mohamed Abdullahi, a Shabelle radio staff member, said. Shabelle's director, Muqtar Mohamed Hirabe, was arrested.

Mohamed Abukar, a presenter and producer at Radio Horn Afrik, said troops broke down their doors and then ordered the station off air. The other shuttered station was Simba.

Government officials declined to comment on the raids.

The three stations and several other independent outlets were briefly taken off air three times last year, prompting criticism from press freedom watchdogs.

Last year, at least eight journalists - including the owner and a presenter of Horn Afrik - were killed in separate attacks by unidentified gunmen.

The targeted media houses had criticised both the government and the Islamic militants who had been trying to topple the administration through a bloody insurgency.

Somalia had been mired in chaos since 1991, after warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

- AP