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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Somalia reverses broadcaster ban | Somalia reverses broadcaster ban |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Somalia's main broadcasters have been allowed to resume operations a day after they were banned. | Somalia's main broadcasters have been allowed to resume operations a day after they were banned. |
| The reversal follows a meeting between media executives from three radio stations and the interim government. Al-Jazeera TV can also resume work. | The reversal follows a meeting between media executives from three radio stations and the interim government. Al-Jazeera TV can also resume work. |
| The government had said the stations were instigating violence, amid accusations they were biased in favour of the ousted Islamist group. | |
| The government is trying to assert its control of the country. | The government is trying to assert its control of the country. |
| Meanwhile demonstrations have been held in Somaliland about comments by the interim Somali leader that he views the breakaway region as part of Somalia. | Meanwhile demonstrations have been held in Somaliland about comments by the interim Somali leader that he views the breakaway region as part of Somalia. |
| Somaliland declared independence from Somalia after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, since when the country has been without an effective national government. | Somaliland declared independence from Somalia after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, since when the country has been without an effective national government. |
| Transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected at peace talks two years ago, but was powerless until Ethiopian forces helped drive out the Islamists. | Transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected at peace talks two years ago, but was powerless until Ethiopian forces helped drive out the Islamists. |
| Tension | Tension |
| Correspondents say the radio stations - Shabelle Radio, Radio HornAfrik and Voice of the Koran radio - are already back on air. | Correspondents say the radio stations - Shabelle Radio, Radio HornAfrik and Voice of the Koran radio - are already back on air. |
| After years operating in a difficult environment to be closed down when you hope there will be stability coming soon is quite amazing Journalist Ahmed Abdisalam | After years operating in a difficult environment to be closed down when you hope there will be stability coming soon is quite amazing Journalist Ahmed Abdisalam |
| "The government reversed the ban," Ali Iman Sharmarke, co-owner of HornAfrik, told Reuters news agency. | "The government reversed the ban," Ali Iman Sharmarke, co-owner of HornAfrik, told Reuters news agency. |
| "The international media and international organisations, especially the ones who work to protect the media, played a major role in the lifting of this ban." | "The international media and international organisations, especially the ones who work to protect the media, played a major role in the lifting of this ban." |
| There are reports that the government is to start publishing its own paper. It already has a website, and two radio stations - Voice of the Republic - broadcasting in Baidoa and Mogadishu. | There are reports that the government is to start publishing its own paper. It already has a website, and two radio stations - Voice of the Republic - broadcasting in Baidoa and Mogadishu. |
| Earlier, HornAfrik journalist Ahmed Abdisalam said the ban was surprising and dismissed claims that his station was sympathetic to the ousted Union of Islamic Courts. | Earlier, HornAfrik journalist Ahmed Abdisalam said the ban was surprising and dismissed claims that his station was sympathetic to the ousted Union of Islamic Courts. |
| "After seven years of operating in a very difficult environment to be closed down when you hope that there will be stability coming soon to Somalia is quite amazing," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "After seven years of operating in a very difficult environment to be closed down when you hope that there will be stability coming soon to Somalia is quite amazing," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| He said during the Islamists' six-month rule there was a lot of tension between the media and the courts - the media was given strict rules to follow which were negotiated between the two sides. | He said during the Islamists' six-month rule there was a lot of tension between the media and the courts - the media was given strict rules to follow which were negotiated between the two sides. |
| Martial law | Martial law |
| The angry protests staged in Somaliland's main towns on Tuesday come after remarks by President Yusuf that, in his mind, he sees Somaliland as part of Somalia. | The angry protests staged in Somaliland's main towns on Tuesday come after remarks by President Yusuf that, in his mind, he sees Somaliland as part of Somalia. |
| For years Somaliland has been campaigning to win support for its claim to be a sovereign state. | For years Somaliland has been campaigning to win support for its claim to be a sovereign state. |
| And Somalilanders, who have escaped much of the chaos and violence that have plagued Somalia, are fiercely opposed to any talk of reuniting with their lawless neighbour. | And Somalilanders, who have escaped much of the chaos and violence that have plagued Somalia, are fiercely opposed to any talk of reuniting with their lawless neighbour. |
| Over the weekend, the Somali interim parliament - based in Baidoa - authorised the government to impose martial law in Mogadishu. | Over the weekend, the Somali interim parliament - based in Baidoa - authorised the government to impose martial law in Mogadishu. |
| Escalating violence comes as an African Union delegation is in the city to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers. | Escalating violence comes as an African Union delegation is in the city to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers. |
| Ethiopia says it wants its forces to pull out within weeks. | Ethiopia says it wants its forces to pull out within weeks. |
| Over the weekend, the regional body, Igad, sent envoys to seven African countries, asking them to contribute to a proposed 8,000-strong peacekeeping force - Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Tunisia and Algeria. | Over the weekend, the regional body, Igad, sent envoys to seven African countries, asking them to contribute to a proposed 8,000-strong peacekeeping force - Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Tunisia and Algeria. |
| So far only Uganda has offered troops - 1,500 - although it needs parliamentary approval. | So far only Uganda has offered troops - 1,500 - although it needs parliamentary approval. |