France condemns killing of Somali journalist, defends press freedom
Date: 25/05/2012      Time: 03:49:00 PM
 
The French government on Friday condemned the killing Thursday in Somalia of radio journalist Ahmed Ado Anshur, who was gunned down as he returned to his home in the capital, Mogadishu. "The murder of Ahmed Ado Anshur brings to six the number of journalists killed in Somalia since the beginning of the year," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said here. The murdered journalist worked for local "Radio Shabelle." The spokesman also noted that several journalists have also been wounded in terrorist attacks in the past months. Somalia, along with Syria, is now slated as the worst place in the world for the safety of journalists. "France calls on the Somali authorities to shed light on the circumstances of this crime, to indentify the perpetrators and those who ordered it and to bring them to justice," the French official added. Valero said that local authorities must take measures to allow journalists to do their jobs in Somalia, which is "among the most dangerous countries in the world for the profession," and protect the rights of a free press.