The Shabeelle Radio station in Baydhabo [Baidoa, south-central Somalia] which has been operating normally has been closed down by a group of armed militia after the radio station conducted an interview with a Digil and Mirifle clan chieftain.

In the interview with Shabeelle, the clan elder launched a scathing attack on the Speaker of the Somali parliament, Sharif Hasan Shaykh Adan, and the manner in which he is going about in setting up an administration for Bay Region.

The militia group stormed the radio premises in the town of Baidoa at around 11 a.m. this morning, arrested the radio journalists, ordered them to switch off the radio transmission equipment and get out of the building, according to the Shabeelle reporters in Baydhabo.

The occupation of the Shabeelle Radio station in Baydhabo follows an interview the Shabeelle Media Network had with chief of the Boqol Horre sub-clan [of the Digil and Mirifle] in which the elder vociferously criticized the Speaker of parliament and the way he was overseeing the efforts to set up an administration for the district of Baydhabo.

The Boqol Horre clan chief accused the Speaker of ignoring the right of the Boqol Horre sub-clan to be represented in the 21-member administration to govern Baydhabo.

This is the first time for Radio Shabeelle, which is a moderate and independent radio station, to be shut down by an armed militia. The radio has in the past broadcast many interviews critical of the president, the prime minister and other figures in society, but has never faced any sanctions and transgressions. This is the first time the radio is being shut down for broadcasting an interview critical of the Speaker of parliament.

Meanwhile, some news just in indicate Radio Shabeelle is back on air in Baydhabo after the one-hour-and-forty minute siege was lifted.

Source: Shabeelle Media Network website, Mogadishu, in Somali 22 May 06

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