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| Middle East |
| Jordan cops in armed clash with Bad Guys... |
| 2002-11-10 |
| Police clashed Sunday with a gang of alleged smugglers led by a Muslim extremist who escaped from custody 10 days ago, and several people were killed, officials said. Police backed by armored vehicles and anti-riot squads surrounded the house where Mohammed Ahmad Shalaby, also known as Abu-Sayyaf, had barricaded himself with other alleged gang members in the city of Maan. Abu Sayyaf is certainly getting to be a popular name lately, isn't it? Shalaby and two other fugitives were supported by members of a Bedouin tribe armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and other weapons, security and police officials said. Several people were killed and wounded in the clash, but exact numbers were not known. One policeman was reportedly among the dead. Interior Minister Qaftan Majali said several people were detained, including foreigners, and weapons were seized. "The campaign will continue until all gang members are arrested," he said. It'll be interesting to know where the foreigners originated... Maan, about 130 miles south of Amman, is home to many heavily armed Bedouin tribesmen who oppose the government's pro-Western stance and a 1994 peace treaty with Israel. The area also is known to be a center for smugglers trafficking arms from neighboring Arab countries, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia. We can guess the destination for those that don't remain in Jordan... Majali said he had gone to Maan on Wednesday and tried unsuccessfully to persuade the tribesmen to hand over the fugitives, prompting Sunday's raid. Government spokesman Mohammad Affash Adwan said members of the gang were wanted for arms and drug smuggling, killings and assaults, as well as challenging the government and burning cars belonging to university professors. Jordan's largest fundamentalist group, the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, criticized the government raid. "It is unacceptable and reflects the martial mentality pursued (by the government) to deal with national issues and citizens," it said in a statement. "It reflects the martial mentality pursued by the government" to respond to riot and insurrection with force? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #1 Well, let's see...they aren't Zionist smugglers, and lead by Muslim Extremist...sounds like Soddy Arabia to me... |
| Posted by: Brian 2002-11-10 19:27:28 |