World

Somali Journalists Freed

by Jordan Yerman | April 18, 2008 at 08:59 am

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Five radio journalists were arrested yesterday as Somali police shut down their station over coverage of a battle in Mogadishu; the government was apparently "annoyed" by their description of the event, which stated that the Somali police were defeated.

The Radio Voice Peace journalists were released overnight hours after they were detained for the station's coverage of an attack on Wednesday night by Islamist insurgents in Mogadishu's KM4 neighbourhood.

The station reported that the rebels had overpowered Somali police in the attack, thus annoying the government, staff members said.

"The journalists were released last night [Thursday] after discussions with Somali government officials. They are free now and we are starting our broadcasting normally," said Mohamed Ali Irole, the station's director.

The Ethiopian-backed government of Somalia is fiercely protective of its domestic image, and actively discourage coverage such as this.

Earlier:

National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today condemns the closure of Radio Voice of Peace in Mogadishu and the subsequent arrest of four its journalists and technician.

Heavily armed police force of the Transitional Federal Government riding in a minibus raided this morning the radio station, ordered its staff to get out their offices and shutdown the privately-owned FM station, according to Mohammed Ali Irole, Director of the Radio Station and other journalists.