Yemeni forces kill rebel cleric

BBC ^ | 10 Sept 2004 | Staff

[csvset]

Yemeni forces kill rebel cleric

Yemen says its forces have killed rebel Shia cleric Hussein al-Houthi.

Hundreds of people have been killed since he launched a revolt against the authorities two months ago.

A statement from the Yemeni interior and defence ministries said Sheikh Houthi had been killed with a number of his aides.

Sheikh Houthi and his men had been hiding in caves in a mountainous area close to the border with Saudi Arabia.

"Today, all the military and security operations to quell the rebellion launched by the so-called Hussein al-Houthi and his supporters have finished with the killing of Houthi and a number of his aides," the statement said.

Bounty

Sheikh Houthi is accused of setting up unlicensed religious centres, creating an armed group called Believing Youth and of staging violent anti-American protests.

He had accused Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh of seeking to please the United States at the expense of his own people.

Anti-US sentiment in the region is high following the occupation of Iraq and some Yemeni clerics are known to preach hatred of the West.

In June, Yemen placed a $55,000 bounty on the head of Sheikh Houthi and launched an operation to capture him.

The battles have been ongoing in the mountainous province of Saada, some 150 miles (240km) north of the capital, Sanaa.

Sheikh Houthi is a member of the Zaidi community, a moderate Shia sect in the north of the mainly Sunni country.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/3643600.stm

Published: 2004/09/10 09:38:00 GMT

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A $55,000 bounty was on offer for Hussein al-Houth

Do rebel clerics get 72 virgins as well?

Sheikh Houthi is a member of the Zaidi community, a moderate Shia sect in the north of the mainly Sunni country.

Ah, a member of "moderate" sect. For his sake, I hope he died a "moderate" death.

[csvset]

Fyi, One less "moderate" radical cleric.

[Casloy]

of staging violent anti-American protests.

Good riddance then.

[Casloy]

Do rebel clerics get 72 virgins as well?

Yes, 72 vrgin little boys. But I'm not sure what they get after they die.

[csvset]

Houthi's death confirmed


Sanaa, YT & Reuters (11 Sep) - Yemeni official sources confirmed to Yemen Times that Sheikh Hussein Badr Eddin al-Houthi, who has been chased for three months in the northern governorate of Saada, was found dead in a cave in Jarf Salman, a village in the region of Maran.

The sources added that he and dozens of his aides were killed by army forces after three days of intense fighting.

However sources sympathetic to Houthi believe that despite his death the rebellion would continue and more of his loyal supporters may put their lives on the line to fight for his revenge.
In an official declaration issued jointly by the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the government called upon its people to go on with their lives and consider the rebellion over.

The statement added that President Saleh instructed to form a committee to evaluate the damage caused to the people of the provinces affected by the clashes to formulate an appropriate compensation for them. "All those who had to leave their homes because of the clashes can now return safely and resume their lives as normal. We will take all steps necessary to ensure that life goes back to normal." it said.
Jarf Salman remained under siege since last August as the army closed in on al-Houthi and his armed supporters.

Houthi was one of a number of rebel leaders in Yemen, but he represented a considerable target having engaged the security forces over a long period. His group is not linked to al Qaeda.

The Yemeni defense and interior ministries, in a joint statement, announced that their forces had killed Houthi in a mountainous area north of the capital Sanaa.

"Today, all the military and security operations to quell the rebellion launched by the so-called Hussein al-Houthi and his supporters have finished with the killing of Houthi and a number of his aides," the statement said.

"President Ali Abdullah Saleh urges all citizens who were affected by the fighting to return to their homes and carry on with their lives," it added.

The government accuses Houthi, leader of the "Believing Youth" group and a Zaidi Shi'ite sect, of setting up unlicensed religious centers and of forming an armed group which has staged violent protests against the United States and Israel.

Security sources said Houthi was killed after troops and armored vehicles maintained a three-day siege of a series of caves in the Haidan area of the mountainous Saada province, some 240 km (150 miles) north of the capital Sanaa.

His body and those of several aides were found in a cave after an intense bout of fighting early on Friday. Several government troops were also killed, but there was no word on casualties from the defense ministry.

Yemen had offered a $54,000 reward for Houthi's capture and in June security forces launched an operation to capture him in the Saada province. Several top Houthi aides were killed in July and August when most of the rebels' strongholds were seized.

Anti-U.S. sentiment is high in Yemen and other countries in the Middle East over the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Source

His group is not linked to al Qaeda.
staged violent protests against the United States and Israel

Well, he wasn't connected to AQ, just your run of the mill, "We hate America & Jews" kind of guy.

[mtbopfuyn]

One down, but dozens will take his place.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Do rebel clerics get 72 virgins as well?

There is a reason why they died "virgin." All are dog ugly, and one must "do" all 72, taking all eternity.

Welcome to hell martyr of Satan.

[muir_redwoods]

"Ah, a member of "moderate" sect. For his sake, I hope he died a "moderate" death."

For those of you keeping score at home, a "Moderate" Islamofascist is one that doesn't eat their dead

[democrats_nightmare]

Do rebel clerics get 72 virgins as well?

Yes, 72 virgin little boys. But I'm not sure what they get after they die.

I thought it was 72 little sheep with a pink ribbon around their neck! LOL!!!! get out the hip waiders you rag heads!