Somali radio director killed

Gunmen in Somalia have killed the director of influential Radio Shabelle.



48 year old Moqtar Mohamed Hirabe was reportedly shot several times in the chest and head.



One of his colleagues, who was injured in the attack in Mogadishu remains stable in hospital.



Somalia is said to be one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.



Journalists working for Radio Shabelle have often come under attack since the independent station began broadcasting in 2003.



Hirabe is said to be its third journalist to be killed this year.



The attack came amid uncertainty over the fate of Islamist opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.



The United States has claimed that the sheikh is a terrorist with links to al-Qaeda.



Fighting between the opposition and pro government forces has been intense with close to 100,000 people forced to flee their homes over the past month.



Also, more than 120 people are reported to have died since Friday.



Somalia has not had a functioning national government for 18 years.