Militia offers to protect media

Martin Adler was a veteran of more than two dozen war zones

The Islamist militia now controlling the Somali capital says it will protect foreign media following the murder of Swedish journalist Martin Adler.

Mr Adler, 47, was shot dead as he filmed a rally in Mogadishu on Friday.

The chairman of Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, sent condolences to Mr Adler's family and promised to track down the killer.

The rally was in support of Thursday's peace deal between the Islamists and the interim government.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said an office would be established to guarantee that international journalists could operate safely and effectively in Mogadishu.

He blamed forces that wanted to destabilise the capital and said: "The Islamic courts are very sorry for the killing and we send our condolences to the family and colleagues."

Lone gunman

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was speaking hours being replaced at the head of the militia by a more radical figure, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys - who is wanted by the US as a terror suspect.

The Islamists wrested control of Mogadishu from warlords

The courts have set up a 10-member panel to investigate the murder.

A BBC correspondent saw a lone gunman shoot Martin Adler in the chest, in the middle of a crowd of thousands.

Mr Adler's body is being flown to neighbouring Kenya.

Somalia has had no effective central government since President Siad Barre was toppled in 1991.

The warlords who deposed him then fought among themselves.

The Islamic militia was formed to counter the warlords and two weeks ago wrested control of the capital from them.

An interim government based in Baidoa, 200km north of the capital, Mogadishu, has been largely ineffective.

However the government and Islamists did agree on Thursday to stop "media campaigns" against each other and to meet again on 15 July, when outstanding issues may be addressed.

The African Union has called for a peacekeeping force to be sent to Somalia.

It says the United Nations arms embargo which currently prevents this should be urgently reviewed.