The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the murder of Said Tahliil Ahmed, Director of HornAfrik- a radio and television station in the Somali Capital Mogadishu- who was gunned down on 4 February 2009.

"We condemn this murder which is the result of the lawlessness in Somalia," said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "This crime, the second in as many months to claim the life of a journalist in 2009, demonstrates that criminal organisations are on a killing spree in Somalia and that journalists are clearly in their sights."

According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Said was killed near the Bakare market in central Mogadishu by three unidentified gunmen who shot him four times in the head as he was with fellow directors of radio stations.

Other media organisation in Somalia said that militia groups opposed to the peace talks which took place in neighbouring Djibouti, could be linked to Said's murder because of his station's extensive coverage of the Somali presidential elections on 30 January 2009.

Some of these groups had reportedly warned media organisations in Somalia against reporting on the peace process.

Said is the second journalist to be killed in Somalia since the start of the year. On 1 January, Hassan Mayow Hassan of Radio Shabelle in Afgooye, south west of Mogadishu was shot dead by a pro-government militia.

"The new Somali authorities must rein in these criminal gangs who are terrorising media", added Baglo. "There are important stories to report on in Somalia and journalists cannot do their job properly while under threat of death."

For more information contact the IFJ at + +221 33 867 95 87

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide