ASOJ.ORG - Mohamed Abdi Guled as unknown Curad and Khadar Farah Hussein, managing editor and reporter/cameraman, respectively, with the newspaper Yool newspaper, became the latest number of journalists held in Somaliland prisons without charges.

Mr. Curad and Mr. Hussein were arrested by police on Tuesday (15 May) while covering a deadly land dispute that erupted between government forces and armed civilians in eastern parts of the capital. The clashes, which left seven people dead including three officers and a pregnant mother spiraled out of control. More than ten were injured and twenty-eight were taken into custody in which seventeen of them face the death penalty.

The Military court also gave five teenagers life sentences, three were acquitted and three others saw their trial delayed till they recover from injuries they sustained during the conflict.

The two reporters got arrested after taking photos of the Interior Minister Mohamed Nuur Arale and Minister of presidency Hersi Ali Haji during their visit to the disputed former military facility.

They are part of number of journalists held in Somaliland prisons without charges including Abdifatah Mohamed Aided (Saxafi newspaper) and Mohamed Abdillahi (Somali Channel tv).

Associated Somali Journalists condemns Somaliland Interior Minister Mohamed Nur Arale who behind the arresting of two Journalists.

ASOJ have called on the Silanyo Authority to release the reporters with out any delay.

On Friday local journalist umbrellas in Hargeisa have called on the government to release the reporters without any delay and condemned its use of brutal force against both civilians and the media.

BY ASOJ SOMALILAND DESK