Djibouti, June 10, 2009, 8:28 PM-ET, (SOMINA)- The United States embassy in Nairobi received with great shock news of the brutal killing of Muktar Mohamed Hirabe, Director of Shabelle TV and Radio stations, on June 7 in Mogadishu’s Bakara Market.  The Embassy wishes to convey its wholehearted condolences, first and foremost, to the widows of Mr. Hirabe and his five children.  We also offer our sympathies to relatives, friends in the media fraternity and the Somali people who for a long time have been his dedicated audience. 

Mr. Hirabe is the fifth Somali journalist killed this year.  Mr. Hirabe appears to have been assassinated by persons associated with extremist elements fighting the Transitional Federal Government, who are opposed to peace and stability in Somalia and beyond.  These individuals clearly have no respect for the sanctity of human life, as demonstrated by the barbaric nature of the killing innocent and unarmed Somali professionals such as Mr. Hirabe.