Somali police force radio station off air

Subject: Somali police force radio station off air Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:45 pm

Police in Somalia have stormed the Mogadishu headquarters of the independent radio station, Shabelle, forcing it off the air.

Somali police force radio station off air _70733466_somalifuneralafp

Somali police force radio station off air _70733466_somalifuneralafp

The authorities said they were taking back possession of the building, which belonged to the government.

The radio station is well known for being critical of senior officials.

The move is the latest in a series of attacks on independent journalists by the government and the Islamist group, al-Shabab, media activists say.

The station had previously been ordered to leave the building.
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Analysis
Farhan Jimale BBC Somali

The authorities say the five days' notice to vacate the building has elapsed and they are enforcing the law - but Radio Shabelle says it is legally occupying the building under an agreement with the previous government.

The radio station is well known for being critical of senior officials. However the weak Somali government has recently been trying to reclaim land and buildings belonging to its former institutions.

Media activists say that this move is the latest in a series of attacks on independent media and journalists in Somalia by both the government and the Islamist group, al-Shabab.

They say this eviction will endanger Radio Shabelle journalists, many of whom live on the premises to protect themselves from attack.

Radio Shabelle reported on its website that police forced their way into the studio and beat journalists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24685989

Somali police force radio station off air

Somali police force radio station off air

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