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Somali broadcasters in ban talks | Somali broadcasters in ban talks |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Somalia's main broadcasters are holding discussions with the government about their ban from broadcasting. | Somalia's main broadcasters are holding discussions with the government about their ban from broadcasting. |
Three top Somali radio stations and al-Jazeera TV were ordered to close to end "chaos" in the capital. | |
Insecurity has been on the rise in Mogadishu since the president returned last week, after Islamists were routed. | Insecurity has been on the rise in Mogadishu since the president returned last week, after Islamists were routed. |
Meanwhile demonstrations have been held in Somaliland about comments by the interim Somali leader that he views the breakaway region as part of Somalia. | |
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, since when the country has been without an effective national government. | |
Transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected at peace talks two years ago, but has been powerless until Ethiopian forces helped drive out Islamist militia. | |
Tension | Tension |
The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan says four of Mogadishu's seven radio stations are still broadcasting. | The BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan says four of Mogadishu's seven radio stations are still broadcasting. |
After years operating in a difficult environment to be closed down when you hope there will be stability coming soon is quite amazing Journalist Ahmed Abdisalam | |
But the three local radio stations - Shabelle Radio, Radio HornAfrik and Voice of the Koran radio - which received a letter, signed by Mogadishu security chief Colonel Ahmed Hassan Ali, ordering them to close immediately are still shut. | But the three local radio stations - Shabelle Radio, Radio HornAfrik and Voice of the Koran radio - which received a letter, signed by Mogadishu security chief Colonel Ahmed Hassan Ali, ordering them to close immediately are still shut. |
HornAfrik also rebroadcasts BBC World Service programmes, but these can still be heard on a BBC relay station in the capital. | |
Our correspondent says the broadcasters are in a meeting with the authorities to discuss their future. | |
There are reports that the government is to start publishing its own paper. It already has a website, and two radio stations - Voice of the Republic - broadcasting in Baidoa and Mogadishu. | There are reports that the government is to start publishing its own paper. It already has a website, and two radio stations - Voice of the Republic - broadcasting in Baidoa and Mogadishu. |
'Strict rules' | |
HornAfrik journalist Ahmed Abdisalam said the move was surprising and dismissed claims that his station was sympathetic to the ousted Union of Islamic Courts. | HornAfrik journalist Ahmed Abdisalam said the move was surprising and dismissed claims that his station was sympathetic to the ousted Union of Islamic Courts. |
"We are very alarmed and very concerned about the trend the government is taking... in trying to silence the people," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | |
"After seven years of operating in a very difficult environment to be closed down when you hope that there will be stability coming soon to Somalia is quite amazing." | "After seven years of operating in a very difficult environment to be closed down when you hope that there will be stability coming soon to Somalia is quite amazing." |
He said during the Islamists' six-month rule there was a lot of tension between the media and the courts - the media was given strict rules to follow which were negotiated between the two sides. | He said during the Islamists' six-month rule there was a lot of tension between the media and the courts - the media was given strict rules to follow which were negotiated between the two sides. |
But government spokesman Abduraman Dinari told a local radio station that those affected were "instigating violence", AFP reports. | But government spokesman Abduraman Dinari told a local radio station that those affected were "instigating violence", AFP reports. |
"We are not undermining the freedom of expression, we are ensuring the security of the Somali people," he said. | "We are not undermining the freedom of expression, we are ensuring the security of the Somali people," he said. |
Martial law | |
The angry protests staged in Somaliland's main towns on Tuesday come after remarks by President Yusuf that, in his mind, he sees Somaliland as part of Somalia. | |
President Yusuf is trying to assert his authority on Mogadishu | |
For years Somaliland has been campaigning to win support for its claim to be a sovereign state. | |
And Somalilanders, who have escaped much of the chaos and violence that have plagued Somalia, are fiercely opposed to any talk of reuniting with their lawless neighbour. | |
Over the weekend, the Somali interim parliament - based in Baidoa - authorised the government to impose martial law in Mogadishu. | |
Escalating violence comes as an African Union delegation is in the city to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers. | Escalating violence comes as an African Union delegation is in the city to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers. |
Ethiopia says it wants its forces to pull out within weeks. | Ethiopia says it wants its forces to pull out within weeks. |
Over the weekend, the regional body, Igad, sent envoys to seven African countries, asking them to contribute to a proposed 8,000-strong peacekeeping force - Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Tunisia and Algeria. | Over the weekend, the regional body, Igad, sent envoys to seven African countries, asking them to contribute to a proposed 8,000-strong peacekeeping force - Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Tunisia and Algeria. |
So far only Uganda has offered troops - 1,500 - although it needs parliamentary approval. | So far only Uganda has offered troops - 1,500 - although it needs parliamentary approval. |