Somalia's Aweys calls for more attacks

MOGADISHU, Sunday

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Radical Hizbu Islam leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has called on his followers to launch more suicide attacks against their enemies.

Speaking during Eid prayer at Elasha Biyaha on the outskirts of Mogadishu today, Sheikh Aweys strongly condemned the killing of Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, the suspected al-Qaeda regional leader, by American commandos.

Sheikh Aweys termed the US operation that took place in Barawe District in southern Somalia on September 14, an unwarranted intervention by US forces.

The leader of Hizbu Islam acknowledged that Nabhan, the international jihadist from Kenya, and his colleagues, died in martyrdom.

“They were killed unlawfully,” remarked Sheikh Aweys, who indicated that the action will not end the struggle of the Islamists in Somalia.

“It is not the first time the Americans are intervening in Somalia, militarily,” said Sheikh Aweys. “They have been hostile to the Muslim people of this country.”

The sheikh recalled the American intervention in Somalia in early 1990s, pointing out that the Western media and public opinion reacted strongly whenever Westerners died or were harmed.

He indicated that the vice versa was the case when other people died in hordes.

Faction leader

Sheikh Aweys singled out an incident in October 1993 when 18 American marines and over 300 Somalis died in a confrontation between loyalist of a Somali faction leader and US Marines in Mogadishu.

“In the incident, only 18 Americans and over 300 Somalis died,, yet the world cried for the Americans and ignored the plight of the Somalis.”