MOGADISHU, 11 June 2007 – Somali authorities have lifted a broadcasting ban on three independent media houses accused of supporting terrorism and said on Monday they had drafted the local industry's first media law.

State security officials ordered the HornAfrik and Shabelle television stations and IQK Koranic radio off the air on Wednesday for the second time in six months.

"The three stations were reopened late yesterday after long deliberations between officials of the ministry of information, other government agencies and the owners of the radio stations," Information Minister Madobe Nuunow Mohamed told Reuters.

Press freedom watchdogs had condemned the latest closure and said the allegations against the broadcasters were unproven.

"We have succeeded in coming up with new press laws. We hope this new law will properly govern the work of the Somali media," the minister said, adding it was the Horn of Africa nation's first media law.

The first closure of the three broadcasters came in January, just weeks after the interim government and its Ethiopian allies routed an Islamist movement from the capital Mogadishu.

On Monday, a government spokesman said a long-awaited reconciliation conference of politicians and clan elders would go ahead in the city as scheduled on June 14.

"The preparations are ongoing, the venue is ready and the delegates are expected to arrive," said Abdi Haji Gobdon.

Source: Reuters