A Saudi Web site says that a popular radical cleric who urged Muslims to target Israeli interests around the world was arrested. Saudi security officials were not available for comment Wednesday. The site, Rasid, posts news about Saudi Arabia's Shiite community and has reliable contacts within both the Sunni and Shi'ite religious community. The site said Sheik Awadh al-Garni was detained Monday in connection with his recent fatwa, or religious edict.
Al-Garni had called on Muslims to avenge the attacks on Gaza by targeting Israeli interests "everywhere." Fatwas are not legally binding and it is up to individual Muslims to follow them. Al-Garni is popular but not a member of the official religious establishment.