SOMALI ISLAMISTS MAKE 'MARTYR' VIDEO

[fagash_killer]

http://www.somaliweyn.com/pages/news/Ma ... may26.html

Somali Islamists make 'martyr' video

By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer

NAIROBI, Kenya - Islamic insurgents in Somalia have created a video showing a man reciting prayers from the Quran before apparently blowing himself up in a suicide blast, the latest sign the extremists are adopting tactics used in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The Associated Press obtained the video Thursday from a person associated with the Shabab, the militant wing of an Islamic group that ruled much of southern Somalia for six months last year. The Council of Islamic Courts was driven from power in December, but has vowed to launch an Iraq-style insurgency until their brand of Islamic rule is imposed in Somalia.

So-called "martyr" videos are a common propaganda tactic used by al-Qaida in Iraq and Afghanistan and by groups in the Middle East, but are not known to have been used before in Somalia. In recent months, the insurgents also have started using suicide bombs and posting battle reports on the Internet, tactics not previously seen in Somalia.

"We know the enemy of Islam, the unbelievers have supporters everywhere and their aim is to prevent us from praying to the holy Quran," said the man in the video, identified as "Martyr Adam Salad Adam." He appeared to be in his 20s.

"But we have the support of God and they will lose in the end," the man said.

Adam urged Somalis to defend their country against "invaders" in the video, and said "I will be the first to devote my life ... I expect God to forgive my sins."

He was shown praying and driving a sport utility vehicle along the main road in the northern part of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, an area that is a stronghold for the Islamists. Arabic music extolling holy war played, urging Muslims to "blow it up, don't waste a day" and "move forward to paradise, ignite a revolution."

Then an explosion was seen from a distance, sending a column of white smoke into the sky. Adam said he was targeting a base manned by Ethiopian troops, who provided vital military assistance to the Somalis in ousting the Islamic courts. It was not clear when the tape was produced, but a suicide bomb struck an Ethiopian base earlier this year.

The first suicide attack reported in Somalia was last September, targeting President Abdullahi Yusuf in the southern town of Baidoa. The blast and a subsequent gunbattle killed Yusuf's brother and 10 others.

Mohamud Gulane, a respected Somali elders, said suicide attacks were unheard of in Somalia until then. "Committing suicide to kill others is a phenomenon that was imported from outside," the 88-year-old Gulane said.

Islamic courts leaders deny any connection with al-Qaida, but the groups appear intertwined.

Aden Hashi Ayro, a Somali trained in al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan before 2001, is on the U.S. State Department's list of suspected terrorists and remains the overall leader of the Shabab.

Another Shabab commander, Issa Osman Issa, is a Kenyan wanted by the FBI for a 2002 terror attack near Mombasa, the State Department says on its Web site.

Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who is from Comoros and widely believed to be the al-Qaida leader for East Africa, runs the Shabab's intelligence section, Somali intelligence officers have told the AP. FBI and Kenyan police reports and U.S. court documents link him to 2002 attacks in Kenya and the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned against each other. The current administration, called the Transitional Federal Government, was established in 2004 with U.N. backing, but has struggled to assert control.

Just weeks ago, the government declared victory over Islamic insurgents after some of the worst fighting in Somalia in more than 15 years. Battles killed at least 1,670 people between March 12 and April 26 and forced a fifth of Mogadishu's 2 million residents to flee.

Source: wfp

[paidmonk]

Somalis and Jihad! Waa la kibreey!

[eyes-only]

wasn't that video out like months ago?

and why is she trying to make it sound like it is the Islamic courts 'creating videos'.....

the group carrying out the martyrdom exercises and creating the videos was born after the Ethiopians invaded Mogadishu. I don't think it is even the shabaah. In any case, as long as there are Ethiopian troops and a warlord government in Somalia those groups however unSomali or unIslamic their actions will always have support.

[Babygal]

somalis and that word martyr don't much...i feel we aren't brave anough to do staff like that...