TV journalist killed in Somalia

KAPTAAN

Prime VIP
A
Malaysian TV journalist fatally shot
in Somalia received a hero's
funeral Sunday attended by
Malaysia's prime minister and
hundreds of mourners.
Cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd
Nor's body was flown back to
Kuala Lumpur in a military aircraft
after he was killed in the Somalian
capital, Mogadishu, while
covering a Malaysian aid agency's
humanitarian mission.
Malaysia's foreign ministry says
Somalian authorities have
pledged to investigate Friday's
killing. Some members of the aid
mission voiced suspicions that
Noramfaizul was shot by African
Union troops while traveling in a
car.
Prime Minister Najib Razak was
among many who prayed over
Noramfaizul's coffin, which was
draped with the flags of Malaysia
and Somalia in a mosque
ceremony broadcast live on
national television.
The New Straits Times newspaper
said Noramfaizul was the first
Malaysian journalist killed on duty
overseas. The 39-year-old worked
for the TV division of Malaysia's
national news agency, Bernama.
Najib, who cut short a private visit
to Australia to return home for
the funeral, told Bernama that the
country had "lost a very noble and
a truly dedicated Malaysian."
Malaysia's Center for Independent
Journalism urged authorities to
boost protection and training for
journalists sent on assignments
to conflict zones. Organizers say
Noramfaizul and more than 50
other Malaysians who had been
in Somalia for less than a week
were not equipped with
protective gear.
Aid agencies and journalists have
been pouring into Mogadishu to
respond to war-ravaged
Somalia's widespread famine.
Islamist rebels pulled out from
their bases in the capital last
month, but said that it was a
"tactical retreat" and that they
would still carry out operations in
the city.
 
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