BBC reporters in Afghanistan, Somalia killed

Two BBC journalists were killed over the weekend, one in Afghanistan and one in Somalia, the British public broadcaster said.

The BBC confirmed on Sunday that Abdul Samad Rohani, an Afghan journalist working for the BBC World Service, was found on Sunday afternoon, shot dead in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province.

Rohani had been abducted on Saturday.

The BBC lauded the journalist for his “courage and dedication” as a member of the corporation’s Kabul bureau.

“His death is a terrible loss — our thoughts are with his friends and family. We are working closely with his family to support them at this difficult time,” said the BBC in a statement on Sunday.

There have been a number of attacks on journalists in Afghanistan this year. The Kabul-based South Asia Media Commission says five Afghan journalists were killed in 2007.

Somalian journalist killed while heading home

Meanwhile, Nasteh Dahir, who worked for both the BBC and the Associated Press, was shot on Saturday by gunmen in Kismayo, 500 kilometres south of the capital Mogadishu southern Somalia. The 36-year-old reporter died later in hospital.

Family members say he was on his way to his home when he was shot.

“We are shocked by what has happened and are trying to ascertain further information,” said a statement released by the BBC in London.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders voiced outrage over the number of journalists being murdered in Somalia.

“We share the dreadful grief that has struck the family and colleagues of Nasteh Dahir Farah. The list of dead just goes on growing while the authorities take no steps to curb the violence which targets journalists,” RSF said in a statement.

“This apathy is disgraceful given the fact that Somalia is Africa’s deadliest country for journalists,” the statement added.

Last year, eight journalists died in targetted killings in Somalia.

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