Statement of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) 

A Swedish journalist was today killed in a massive demonstration organised by Islamic Courts Union (ICU) in Mogadishu after the Friday prayer to support the deal reached yesterday in Khartoum by the transitional government and Islamic courts. The demonstration was held at Fagaaraha Tarabunka (Tribune Plaza).

The Swedish photographer whose name was declared as Martin Halder was hit a bullet from a pistol at the left of his chest and directly went through his heart, according journalists at the scene. The cameraman used to work for UK TV, Channel 4. Sources said that he is working currently in Mogadishu as a freelance

"He was standing on a stone inside the people, not the heavily guarded area that the leaders of the ICU and other foreign journalists were staying" said NUSOJ official at the demonstration. "He immediately collapsed and the people run away". "Security guards of the Islamic courts came, he is dead".

The Islamic Courts Union immediately condemned the killing, and vowed to capture the murderer and bring him to the Justice.

"We strongly condemn this barbaric killing of this journalist, and call upon Islamic courts to bring justice the killer of this journalist immediately" said the NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman.

NUSOJ will be making updates on the killing of this journalist.

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