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BBC woman shot dead in Somalia
By Oliver Finegold, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 10.02.05
Kate Peyton
A BBC producer has been shot dead in Somalia only hours after arriving in the country.
Kate Peyton, 39, was gunned down outside the Sahafi Hotel in the capital Mogadishu. She underwent surgery for a bullet wound but died of internal bleeding a short time later.
Ms Peyton had travelled to Somalia with BBC reporter Peter Greste to make a series of reports on the troubled east African country.
It is understood she was shot in the back by a militiaman, despite being under guard. He was chased but escaped in a car, witnesses said. Mr Greste was unharmed. The motive for yesterday's attack is not known.
Ms Peyton, who grew up in Suffolk, had worked for the BBC as a producer and reporter for 12 years and was based in Johannesburg.
"Kate was one of our most experienced and respected foreign affairs producers and had worked all over the world," said BBC director of news Helen Boaden.
"She will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her partner Roger, his daughter, and Kate's mother, brother and sister-We are in touch with the family and doing all we can to support them at this terrible time."
BBC director-general Mark Thompson added: "I am profoundly shocked and saddened by Kate's death. Kate had worked for the BBC since 1993 and was dedicated to covering news across Africa. Our thoughts are with her family and friends."
Somalia has been riven by lawlessness since the overthrow of military ruler Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991, with rival warlords competing for power.
A US-led peacekeeping force which entered the country in 1992 was forced to leave three years later having failed to stop the fighting.
At least eight foreign journalists have been killed covering Somalia since 1991. The worst day was on July 12 1993, when a cameraman and three photographers were killed by a mob outside a house that had been fired on by US helicopters.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We were saddened to hear of the death of Kate and would like to send our condolences to her family and friends.
"She had travelled with the Foreign Secretary abroad and was well known to our staff."
