Assailants wearing government uniform have killed a Somali radio journalist in the capital Mogadishu, making him the 13th journalist to be killed within this year in the war-torn country.

On Friday, Veteran journalist Hassan Yusuf Absuge, who worked at many media outlets including GBC broadcasting radio Mogadishu and radio Maanta was shot in Ali Kamin district close to Yakhshiid area when he left his office after the night shift.

"He was shot dead after he left the radio station," AFP quoted the Maanta radio's news editor, Abidaziz Hussein, as saying on Friday.

"They shot him dead... the attackers escaped before police reached the area," said the younger brother of slain journalist, Mohamed Hassan.


No group has claimed responsibility for the killing.

According to a statement released by Press rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the year 2012 is the "deadliest year" on record for Somalia, surpassing 2009 when nine died.

Earlier on Thursday, at least fourteen people were killed and more than 37 others injured in double bomb attacks at a restaurant which is popular with civil servants and journalists and is close to the presidential palace in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

The dead included the former editor of Somali National TV, two other journalists and two policemen.

Meanwhile, Ali Mohamud Rage, the spokesman of al-Shabab militant group, said the bombing at the restaurant was carried out by the supporters of the group.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

On September 10, MPs meeting in Mogadishu elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president of Somalia with a big majority.

The 56-year-old university lecturer garnered 190 votes against 79 for former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a second round run-off in the presidential election.

The African nation is one of the countries generating the highest number of refugees and internally displaced people in the world.
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Press TV