According to journalists in Bardhere, the attack took place soon after Omar Abdirahman Mohamoud and Sahra Ali Mohamoud left the offices of their radio station. In an attempt to escape their attackers, the two journalists ran on foot, but were chased and beaten severely with baseball bats.  They were able to evade their attackers and are now hiding in the town. During the beatings, the militia attackers were overheard saying: “These are bad guys, so-called journalists, we have to take action.”  After the attacks the militias went on to say: “The other journalists should have to leave the town.”

In addition to the beating of the journalists, the journalists of the region are fully censored and are not allowed to interview government officials, according to journalists in Bardhere.


For further information, contact:
National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
Taleex Street, KM4 Area, Hodan District,
Mogadishu, Somalia, tel/fax: +252 1 859 944,
e-mail: newsletter@nusoj.org  
Internet: http://www.nusoj.org