NAIROBI, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A journalist from the British Broadcasting Corp. was shot dead Wednesday in Somalia by an unidentified militiaman, according to reports reaching here from Mogadishu.

    The BBC confirmed that Kate Peyton, 39, an Africa producer for the broadcaster, was shot while accompanied by another BBC journalist who was not injured.

    Peyton underwent surgery at a Mogadishu hospital. The BBC said "it was later reported that she died from internal bleeding.''

    The reason for the shooting was not immediately clear.

    Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991 when the regime of Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled, following whichthe country plunged into anarchy and factional violence.

    Last October, however, a parliament and presidency were set up in neighboring Kenya, pending their hoped-for installation in capital Mogadishu once the security situation there improves. Enditem