20100531
PressTV

The Somali armed group al-Shabab has suspended all relations with the London-based Universal TV for showing sacrilegious cartoons disrespecting Islam's Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

pokesman for the group Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Raghe criticized Universal TV on Monday for deliberately showing insulting material targeting Islam's prophet, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The measure taken by the UK-based channel is part of a campaign against Islam, the al-Shabab spokesman explained about the Somali language broadcaster which is viewed across Somalia by satellite.

According to Raghe, the Information Section of al-Shabab has made a decision to cease cooperation with the Somali-language television.

The al-Shabab official went on to call on the broadcaster to apologize for the insult.

Somalia has been lacking a functioning central government since warlords toppled President Siad Barre in 1991.

Al-Shabab fighters control large parts of the capital, Mogadishu and have been fighting over the control of southern regions including the port city of Kismayo.