South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has retracted his threat to kill journalists following the Wednesday murder of reporter Peter Moi Julius, saying media workers should not be harmed.

Last Sunday Kiir threatened reporters with death. "If anybody [journalists] does not know that this country has killed people, we will demonstrate it one day, on them. ... Freedom of the press does not mean you work against the country," he said. Full audio of President Kiir's words is available here.

In a statement released Saturday, the Office of the President said Kiir "was quoted out of context."

"This was just a reminder to South Sudanese Journalists, not a threat of inhalation [sic] against Journalists as it was distorted," the statement said. "Nothing shall harm a Journalist when he/she is going about his/her journalistic profession."

The disavowal of Kiir's threat follows an outcry in South Sudan and internationally against the president's words. South Sudanese journalists went on a 24-hour strike to demand the president take back his utterance.

The Saturday statement from the Presidency further said Kiir is "a keen protector of the right to freedom of expression and fundamental human rights, and so he cannot threat anyone of killing...The President of the republic didn’t have any intention to threat, or to effect killing of any life."

The Presidency went on to threaten journalists with legal action: "If a journalist has fails [sic] to render his/her journalistic duties in accordance with professional practice of Journalism, the best place for them is to face a libel either in tort or criminal law."

Moi Julius, who wrote for the New Nation and the Corporate, was shot twice in the back on Wednesday night. His body was found in the Jebel area of Juba. His wallet and phone were not taken.

An investigation has reportedly been opened but there are no reports of arrests so far. Media groups have called on the international community to assist with the investigations and have demanded that a journalist take part in the investigating committee.

The statement by the presidency retracting Kiir's threat neither condemned nor mentioned Julius' killing.