Sudanese Muslim Scholars shout "LONG LIVE BIN LADEN"

Zawya ^ | 10/09/01 | AFP

[winna]

	Sudanese Muslims slam strikes on Afghanistan, cry "long live bin Laden"

KHARTOUM, Oct 9 (AFP) - Sudanese Islamic scholars and mujahedin demonstrated Tuesday against the US-led strikes on Afghanistan, crying support for Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, witnesses said.

Hundreds of protestors marched along the streets of the Sudanese capital and gathered in front of the presidential palace where their leaders made fiery speeches condemning the war on Afghanistan as one against Islam.

The mujahedin -- Muslim holy fighters engaged in Khartoum's civil war with mainly southern rebels -- sported pictures on their chests of Saudi-born Islamic militant bin Laden, wanted by the United States for the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

"Long live bin Laden," they shouted along with pro-Islamic slogans and tirades against the United States which has launched strikes on Afghanistan, where bin Laden is in hiding, in retaliation for the hijacked plane attacks.

A white-bearded veteran fighter called Suleiman Taha was introduced to the crowd as "a companion of bin Laden" during the years when bin Laden lived in Sudan in the first half of the 1990s.

Bin Laden left Sudan under government pressure in 1996.

Taha, who in the past frequently appeared on Sudanese state television among fighters being rallied for the civil war, praised bin Laden as a faithful Muslim fighter.

The Islamic scholars attending the rally issued a fatwa (Islamic edict), branding the United States "the arch-enemy" of Islam, an "atheist nation" and "sponsor of atheism and the Jews."

The fatwa, which was read at the gathering, said the US campaign against terrorism was "a real crusade" to which Washington was rallying "its allies and agents, including its former enemies, like the Russians."

The fight against terrorism is "only a pretext for attacking Islam amd eliminating Muslims," they said, accusing the United States of supporting terrorist operations by Israel against the Palestinians "on their own land."

They urged the mujahedin in Afghanistan and every Muslim territory to defend their faith, lands and honour. The fatwa was signed by 48 prominent Sudanese Muslim scholars.

[winna]

So they claim the US is the "arch-enemy of Islam". While our government is saying we are not against Islam, THEY are saying we are. Sounds like an invitation to me! Maybe our military should pay them a visit.

[Cicero]

Sudan is on the short list.

[Sender]

Let's cause a brief inconvenience at their aspirin factory!

[Middle of the Road]

Yeah take a quote from another fanatical group to support your reasons to bomb them. My suggestion is look for someone who opposes osama for a quote not someone on his side.