Somalia's government executes Islamic extremist rebel convicted of killing a journalist

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Somali military official says the government has executed a man convicted of murdering a journalist, the first such execution in a country where those who kill media workers often evade justice.

Col. Abdullahi Muse Keyse, a spokesman for Somalia's military court, said Saturday that Aden Sheikh Abdi, who was accused of belonging to the Islamic extremist rebels al-Shabab, was killed by firing squad early Saturday in the capital, Mogadishu.

Last month a Mogadishu court found Abdi guilty of the murder late last year of radio reporter Hassan Yusuf Absuge.

Tom Rhodes, the East Africa consultant for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the execution would help end impunity in Somalia, one of the most dangerous places for media workers. At least 18 Somali journalists were killed last year.