Radio station manager killed in Somalia

The manager of a radio station critical of both the Somali government and the Islamic militants who have been trying to topple it was killed outside his home in the Somali capital, the eighth journalist slain in the country this year.

Radio Shabelle's Bashir Nor Gedi, who was also a well-known businessman, was returning home from work late Friday when gunmen shot him three times in the head and chest, his younger brother, Abdinasir Nor Gedi, said Saturday.

"We heard three gunshots and someone crying out for help. When we came out we saw it was my brother in a pool of blood," the brother told The Associated Press.

Human rights groups condemned the killing of yet another Somali journalist.

Mogadishu has been plagued by fighting since government troops and their Ethiopian allies chased out the Council of Islamic Courts in December. For six months, the Islamic group controlled much of southern Somalia and remnants have vowed to fight an Iraq-style insurgency.

Hassan Shire Sheikh, chairman of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, said the government and all parties to the conflict "have totally failed to stop murderous acts targeted at journalists and this can only aim at covering up the heinous acts they are committing against the Somali population."

The group said Gedi was the eighth journalist killed this year.

Radio Shabelle's acting director, Ga'far Mohamed Kukay, said more than a dozen staff members remained inside the station's headquarters, scared to return to their homes.

"It was a very shocking act of revolting savagery," said Kukay. He said the station halted normal programming so staff could mourn their colleague.

Radio Shabelle, one of the country's largest radio stations, was also shut down earlier this month for 15 days after government soldiers threatened to pound it with missiles and machine gun rounds.

Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said demanded the government conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and ensure that all Radio Shabelle staff can return to their homes safely.