In the central town of Dhusa Mareb, the Sufi militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, which supports the Transitional Federal Government, raided Dhusa Mareb Radio on Wednesday evening and detained editor Abdikafi Hashi for four hours, local journalists reported.

The station had run reports of infighting among Ahlu-Sunna Wal Jama’a leaders.

“Armed groups on all sides of the conflict must stop using the media as pawns,” said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. “Both groups involved in Wednesday’s attacks should allow journalists to return to work and the stations to resume their normal broadcasting immediately.”

Dhusa Mareb Radio has been targeted by anti-government forces as well. Al-Shabaab militants looted the station in April while briefly controlling the town.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide since 1981

Pana 25/06/2011

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