The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for authorities in Libya to carry out a thorough investigation into the brutal murder of Radwan Ghariani, the owner of a radio station in Tripoli.

According to media reports, Ghariani, the owner of Tripoli FM, was found dead in his car by a police patrol on Sunday night, 1 December, in Tripoli's eastern suburb of Ghot al-Roman. Reports say he had been shot a number of times.

"We express our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of the respected Libyan media owner Radwan Ghariani," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. "We call on the authorities in Libya to carry out an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances of his murder and make sure those who carried out this horrific act answer for their crimes."

It is not known who killed Ghariani or for what reason, but his murder comes during an increase in violence in Libya in recent months as the country struggles to rein in militias made up of former rebels. Tripoli FM, the station he owned, broadcasts exclusively in English and plays Western music. According to media reports, Ghariani had not received any death threats prior to his murder.

Amid the escalating violence in Libya, the IFJ has called Libyan authorities to make every effort to ensure the safety of journalists working in the country.

"We call on the Libyan government to step up their efforts to protect the safety, freedoms and rights of media workers in Libya," said IFJ General Secretary Beth Costa. "We also ask media owners to protect the safety of journalists working in the field in the country, and we urge the journalists themselves to remain vigilant and alert at all times and not to avoid potentially dangerous situations." For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600 000 journalists in 134 countries