Somalis Wary Of 'Bin Laden' Tape

BBC ^ | 7-2-2006

[blam]

Somalis wary of 'Bin Laden' tape

Bin Laden was giving an opinion, the Somali leader said

The powerful Islamist movement in Somalia has distanced itself from comments about Somalia attributed to al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. An internet audio recording warned the West not to send troops to Somalia.

But a leader of the Union of Islamic Courts, which has taken control of the capital, Mogadishu, said they did not rely on any outside group.

The US has accused one Islamic leader, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, of links to al-Qaeda and involvement with terror.

Mr Aweys denies the US allegations, saying the case against him was built by enemies from within Ethiopia.

Speaking to reporters in Mogadishu, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, also a figurehead of the Islamic Courts, said Bin Laden was expressing his personal opinion in the audio recording, which has not been verified.

Somalia's Islamists have regularly denied harbouring al-Qaeda fighters in their ranks.

'Opportunity'

As well as warning against the introduction of Western troops, the speaker on the audio recording released on Saturday also called on all Somalis to back attempts to build an Islamic state.

Since Islamic Courts militias banished secular warlords from Mogadishu last month, Somalia is suddenly of much greater interest to al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, BBC Africa analyst David Bamford notes.

But Mogadishu's new rulers have been at pains to convince Washington and regional African governments that they pose no threat, despite their Islamic leanings, and want to bring stability to Somalia, our correspondent adds.

Diplomats have suggested there is a new window of opportunity to secure peace in Somalia, after 15 years without a functioning central government.

The interim government, based in the city of Baidoa, has called for international peacekeepers to be sent to the country.

[wildwood]

The powerful Islamist movement in Somalia

don't believe the "new leaders" are somalis....they're MOVE-INs, if you know what i mean.

[Cindy]

Interesting article blam.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): Cairo, Egypt - "NEW MESSAGE FROM BIN LADEN ADDRESSES MUJAHEDIN IN IRAQ, SOMALIA" (July 1, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org

"albayanat.blogspot.com

"albayanat.blogspot.com/2006/07/blog-post.html" (July 1, 2006)

"http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2977/2243/320/cfd5bb4c7b.png"

"www.ekhlaas.info/mas/sound/abdullah.wma"

"press-release.blogspot.com

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "SOMALIA'S TERROR CAMPS" by Bill Roggio (July 2, 2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "'BIN LADEN' WARNING OVER SOMALIA" (July 1, 2006)

CNN.com (AP): Mogadishu, Somalia - "BIN LADEN MESSAGE: SOMALIA IS FRONT IN WAR ON U.S." (June 30, 2006)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "AS-SAHAB ANNOUNCES A BIN LADEN VIDEO ON SOMALIA" by Walid Phares (June 30, 2006)

INTELLIGENCE-SUMMIT.blogspot.com (REUTERS): Washington - "U.S. SAYS FUNDS FLOW IN FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO SOMALIA" (June 30, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Monitor: "SOMALIA'S REGIONAL PROXY WAR AND ITS INTERNAL DYNAMICS" by Anouar Boukhars (June 29, 2006)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com (AP): "CLERIC PREDICTS ISLAMIC STATE" by Elizabeth A. Kennedy (June 27, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "SOMALIA BELIEVED HEADED FOR 'DRACONIAN SHARIA LAW'" by Monisha Bansal (June 19, 2006)

CLANDESTINE RADIO.com - GLOBAL CRISIS WATCH: (Note: Includes a report on Somalia) (MP3) (June 15, 2006)

SHABELLE NEWS.com

CNS NEWS.com: "ISLAMIST TRIUMPH IN MOGADISHU WORRIES SECURITY EXPERTS" by Patrick Goodenough (June 9, 2006)

COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG.org: "THE 'MAHAKEM AL ISLAMIYA' ARE CONNECTED TO AL QAIDA" by Walid Phares (June 7, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - Weblog: "SHARIA TRIUMPHS IN SOMALIA" (June 5, 2006)

FREEREPUBLIC.com - Keyword: "SOMALIA"

TRAVEL.STATE.GOV - Consular Information Sheet: "SOMALIA"

TKB.org: "SOMALIA"

COUNTERTERRORISMBLOG.org: "NEW OSAMA BIN LADEN VIDEO TAPE RELEASED (edited)" by Andrew Cochran (June 29, 2006)

"http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/2024/a22xc.jpg"

"ia301211.us.archive.org/1/items/rallycrash/cheikh_abu1.mpg"

stepping back in time...."/ia310127.us.archive.org/2/items/Shikhe_AbuAbdullah/ubl0.mpeg"

stepping back in time..."img185.imageshack.us/img185/8440/1777hj.jpg"

[rhombus]

The interim government, based in the city of Baidoa, has called for international peacekeepers to be sent to the country.

In other words now that they've taken over they want the UN to help them keep it.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Some one has brought out yet another "bin Laden" tape proporting to be the dead Saudi ex-gang leader. If bin Laden were alive we would be seeing him on al Jazzera, the Arab News TV Network, every week.

The really surprising things is that the Muslims have not had the wit to find someone who looks and sounds like bin Laden to make the videos.

[Cindy]

Everyone has an opinion or two.
Thanks for sharing yours.

[Joe 6-pack]

The Clinton Administration truly was the gift that keeps on giving....

[blam]

" If bin Laden were alive we would be seeing him on al Jazzera, the Arab News TV Network, every week."

I read where someone was speculating that he has been injured or in such bad health that he looks like Shiite...and, they do not want the masses to see how bad he looks.

[RightWhale]

They have had no trouble finding someone to act his voice, but matching his appearance seems to be a problem.