Nairobi, (insidesomalia.org) - United Nations top relief chief for Somalia Mark Bowden on Monday condemned the weekend killing of a senior Somali journalist, Nasteh Da h ir Farah, who was shot dead outside his home in Kismayo at the weekend.

Dahir Farah was fatally shot on Saturday 7 June, by unknown gunmen. He had been working for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Associated Press.

He was also the vice chairman of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ ).

Bowden said members of civil society in Somalia, in particular the media, have b een singled out for attacks and assassination.

"It is with great dismay that I express today (Monday), on behalf of the United Nations and its partners working in Somalia, shock and disappointment that anoth e r Somali journalist was brutally murdered over the weekend," he said in a statem e nt.

Somalia is Africa's deadliest country for journalists and it is the second-most dangerous place in the world for the media to work.

Seven journalists were killed in 2007 and with the death of Farah nine have been killed in 2007-2008. He is the second reporter to be killed in Kismayo this yea r.

NUSOJ says Farah had reported several death threats before he was shot dead and a request had been made to the UN to consider a special form of protection.

The UN official hailed journalists working in Somalia for braving several hazard s to their lives and continuing to work despite the threats. Bowden specifically hailed Farah for continuing to work despite the threats to the lives of journali s ts in Somalia.

"It's a tribute to the dedication and courage of journalists such as Farah, that despite the fact that members of the media are frequently targeted, harassed, a r rested and killed in Somalia, he continued his work," said Bowden, the UN Humani t arian/Resident Coordinator "Sadly, his dedication cost him his life. We extend our condolences to his famil y, colleagues and the wider Somali civil society," the UN official said.

Somali journalists said they had frequently appealed to the UN Security Council to consider offering a special form of protection for Somali journalists in the absence of a central authority.

NUSOJ, in a statement announcing the shooting to death of its Vice President, vowed to continue working despite the professional "minefield" that continues to d o g them.