MOGADISHU (AFP) — Heavily armed Somali government forces on Sunday raided three private radio stations in the capital, forcing them to cease broadcasting, the stations' journalists said.
Hundreds of troops stormed into buildings housing Radio Simba, Radio Shabelle and HornAfrik Radio, broke and confiscated equipment, and left without explanation.
The raid came a day after the Ethiopia-backed Somali forces heavily clashed with Islamist insurgents in southern Mogadishu, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 30 others.
"They came to the station and ordered everyone to leave. We left the station and it is now off air," said HornAfrik journalist Ali Komeni.
"They entered the building and broke (into) the offices taking four personal computers, a mixer, microphones and three digital cameras," Abdirahman Qoje of Simba Radio said.
Government forces have in the past raided local radio stations, accusing them of fanning insurgent violence.
In November, Mogadishi mayor ordered off air three stations, including Radio Simba and Radio Shabelle, but they were later allowed to operate after signing an agreement.
Press watchdogs have chided Somalia for its heavy-handed crackdown on free press.
The war-wracked Horn of Africa nation is ranked as the world's second-deadliest country for journalists by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
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