Somali gunmen end seizure of broadcasting station

Mogadishu- Somalia (PANA) -- Somalia's Hornafrik Radio and TV Station is back on the air after gunmen belonging to a wealthy business seized it, angered by what he called defamatory reports aired by the broadcaster.
The station went off the air Friday after militiamen loyal to wealthy businessman, Mohammed Deilaf, seized it.
The gunmen withdrew from the station following peace talks brokered by politicians and clan elders.
Deilaf, who admitted sponsoring the attack, said he was acting out of anger against the station's reports aimed at tarnishing his image and reputation.
He said he ordered his militiamen to seize the station pending an apology from the station owners.
Welcoming the militia's withdrawal, the station stood its ground, vowing to continue reporting the truth and that the gunmen would not cow it.
It condemned the seizure as an attack on press freedom in Somalia.
Somali human rights organisations also condemned the attack and urged Somalis to respect the local media.
Killing, kidnapping and general lawlessness is the order of the day in the war-ravaged country that has never known peace since the overthrow of the late military dictator Siad Barre in 1991.
Barre died in exile in Nigeria in the early 1990's.