20100410
PRESS TV

Somali armed group al-Shabab has banned Somali language transmissions by the BBC and VOA inside the country.

In a Friday press release, al-Shabab leaders ordered the local Mogadishu radio and other news organizations transmitting the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) or the Washington-based Voice of America to immediately terminate their contracts.

The group accused the BBC and VOA of negative propaganda against Muslims while supporting the transitional government, a Press TV correspondent reported from Mogadishu late Friday.

Al-Shabab also said that the BBC had been broadcasting the agenda of crusaders and colonialists against Muslims.

In reaction to the ban, VOA issued a statement Friday afternoon, saying that "VOA regrets this decision. We believe broadcasting news and information on FM stations serves the Somali people."

The BBC, in its defense, said it was strictly impartial and spoke to all sides in the conflict.