Unidentified gunmen on Friday (January 18th) killed a radio presenter from the Shabelle Media Network (SMN) in Mogadishu, AFP reported.

Abdihared Osman Adan was shot several times as he was headed to work from his house in Mogadishu's Wadajir district.

"The gunmen shot him three times in the neck and shoulder. He was seriously injured and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead," said Mohamed Bashir, a colleague. "We do not know the motives of the killers, but it looks to be part of the campaign to eliminate free press in the country."

Abdihared Osman Adan is the first Somali journalist to be killed in 2013. Eighteen journalists were killed in Somalia last year, including four who worked for SMN, among them the station's director. No one has been brought to justice for the killings.

SMN condemned the attack, saying Adan had been "an outstanding colleague and very active journalist in both the TV and radio of the network".

British Ambassador to Somalia Matt Baugh immediately called on the Somali government to bring the killers to justice. "It is important to end impunity for the murder of journalists," he said, according to statement posted on UK in Somalia's Twitter account. "Their work is crucial to the future of Somalia and they should be able to operate without fear for their lives. I pay tribute to their bravery and professionalism."