Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) has expressed its concern over the seizure of GBC Radio and Television by Hizbul Islam militias in Mogadishu which is disastrous to the work of the independent media outlets in Somalia.

On Saturday night, a militant commander has ordered his militias to storm the station and then start looting its broadcasting instruments, according to the local media in Somalia.

The seized radio and TV station locates in north of Mogadishu, the main stronghold for the rebel Islamist groups.

This is the second attack on the Mogadishu's independent media within 24 hours.

"The attack on GBC Television is part of the radical Islamists' ideology aimed to stop media activities and hide truth from the public and the world." Dahir Abdulle Alasow, chairman of ASOJ said. "The continuation of the media destruction in Mogadishu is indeed hurting us and as media defender I am appealing to the international media group to seek ways to protect the free media in Somalia that fighting for the democracy."