Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Somalia: Al-Shabab releases three radio journalists

Somalia's Islamist, insurgent Shabab released three journals from jail and allowed a radio station they closed down to be on air.

Heavily armed Shabab forces entered the premises of Radio Jubba late Sunday and detained the radio's director Mukhtar Mohamed Atosh, as well as its editor-in-chief Mohamed Adawe Adan and reporter Mohamed Nur Mohamed.

Officials say al-Shabab freed the journalists and allowed the radio to operate with condition. The director said that the Shabab warned against him to broadcast music and songs from the radio.

Baidoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, is officially the seat of Somalia's transitional federal parliament but was conquered by Islamist insurgents in late January.

The Shabab and their Islamist allies controlling the southern third of the lawless country have previously imposed restrictions on the media. Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists, who have been routinely arrested by the authorities or kidnapped and killed by various armed groups.

amsomalia@mareeg.com

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