Gunmen kill Somali radio journalist

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MOGADISHU, Somalia, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A Somali radio journalist was killed by gunmen Friday as he left his house to prepare to broadcast the morning news, officials said.

Abdihared Osman Adan, 45, was attacked by three men with pistols about 7:10 a.m. local time as he headed to work at Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu, Shabelle News reported.

Adan, the first journalist killed in Somalia this year, is the ninth Radio Shabelle journalist killed since January 2007.

He was among the few Radio Shabelle reporters who did not live on the grounds of the station as a matter of personal safety.

Omar Faruk Osman, secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists, condemned Adan's killing. He demanded the Somali government find and punish the shooters "and take all necessary measures so that journalists can practice their work in safe conditions."

In an interview with Radio Shabelle Thursday, Osman called on authorities to create a special force dedicated to the protection of journalists.