UK citizen Abdi Malik runs a popular radio station in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu
A court in Somalia has ordered the seizure of a radio station owner’s UK passport after he was accused of threatening national security.
Somalia-based Radio Shabelle owner Abdi Malik, who was arrested in August, appeared in court handcuffed.
The judge freed him on bail on condition he surrendered his passport to the government.
He denies accusations that his radio station incited violence against the security forces.
The allegations relate to fighting following the government’s disarmament of some clan militias in the capital, Mogadishu, in August.
Somalia is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists who are often targeted in the conflict between the UN-backed government, al-Qaeda-linked militants and rival clans.
The Somali army began to disarm clan militias in Mogadishu in August
Many people are armed in the city which often comes under attack from the Islamist group al-Shabab
The court did not grant bail to another Shabelle journalist who appeared in court with Mr Malik.
Instead, Ahmed Hassan – a Somali citizen – was remanded in custody, reports the BBC’s Mohamed Moalimu from Mogadishu.