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Gunmen target Mogadishu radio chiefs
 Unknown gunmen shoot and kill the managing director of a local radio station while injuring another at Mogadishu's Bakara market. What's the frequency, Achmed? The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon as three unidentified armed men opened fire in the biggest trading center in Somalia. The attack accordingly claimed the head of HornAfrik radio, Said Tahlil Ahmed, and left the managing director of Shabelle radio, Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, slightly wounded, a Press TV correspondent in Somalia reported. The Wednesday assault took place between Dahabshiil building and Nation Link Telecom building as the managing directors of various local radio channels were heading back to their stations following a meeting at a bazaar's building. The meeting had earlier been called by senior al-Shabaab officials. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assassination and the motive behind the murder remains unknown. Said Tahliil Ahmed is the second media person killed in Mogadishu so far this year. Weeks ago, insurgents had targeted Shabelle radio reporter, Hassan Mayow, in the Somali capital. The wave of killing and injuring media people in lawless Somalia is an intentionally organized drive to silence journalistic voice in the Horn of Africa state. HornAfrik takes pride on its journalistic independence. According to the BBC, its broadcasts have in the past 'angered both the government as well as the opposition.' Last year, former managing director of HornAfrik radio, Ali Iman Sharmarke, and his colleague, Mahad Ahmed Elmi, were assassinated in Mogadishu. Elmi was gunned down by two assailants as he headed for work. A few hours later, Sharmarke was killed as explosives planet in his car went off on his way back from Emil's funeral. Two other Somali journalists, one working for Reuters and the other for Voice of America who were traveling with Sharmarke, were injured in the attack. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-05 |
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