Somali police raided a private television channel on Friday in the capital Mogadishu, detaining three people.

The owners of Universal TV and the National Union of Somali Journalists have condemned the journalists' arrest.

The Somali government has not yet released an official statement on the detentions, but the TV channel’s officials believe that it was targeted due to a program which broadcast claims of violations allegedly committed by Somali government and African Union peacekeeping troops.

Last year, the government sanctioned Universal TV over accusations it had defamed Somaliland president, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud.