Nairobi — Ten days after an order to stop playing music and other lyrics was given to radios and TVs in Mogadishu, the media houses have complied. Even the tunes that played at news times are no more.

Hizbul Islam, one of the Islamist groups opposing the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia, gave the order on April 3, saying the music and other melodic tunes were un-Islamic.

Some widely listened radio stations like Shabelle and Horn Afrik have begun their programmes without a single jingle.

At times, there have been unmelodic sounds to accompany their regular line up, including educational or health programmes.

Familiar tunes

Sounds of chicken or horses have replaced familiar tunes to signal programmes. Even melodies that were used for advertisements have been removed.

The ban affected more than a dozen independent radios in Mogadishu, most of them in rebel controlled parts of the city.

Some radios have even complied with a ban by radical Islamist group al Shabaab, to stop re-broadcasting the BBC and VOA programmes since April 9.

Radio Mogadishu, a broadcaster run by the government has not been affected.

The TFG's Information Minister, Dahir Mohamud Ghelle, called the media bans an abuse against press freedom. He invited the affected broadcasters to set up stations in areas controlled by the government.