A leader of Somalia's Islamist insurgency has threatened to attack America if President Barack Obama does not convert to Islam. Fuad Mohamed "Shongole" Qalaf said in Monday's radio message that President Obama must convert to Islam or Somalia's al-Shabab militia would seek to launch attacks in the United States. Al-Shabab has not yet launched an attack outside Africa but Western intelligence has long been worried because the group targeted young Somali-Americans for recruitment. About 20 have traveled to Somalia for training.
The militia launched coordinated suicide attacks in Uganda in July that killed 76 people. It has also announced its allegiance to al-Qaida and is believed to be harboring a mastermind of the twin 2008 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people.
Meanwhile, the leader of a Somali Islamist group which joined forces with al-Shabab rebels has said the merger would help oust "infidel" invaders. Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the head of the Hezb al-Islam movement, on Sunday said the move would boost their drive against the African Union forces protecting the Western-backed government they are fighting to topple.
"The reason we have joined forces is to strengthen our powers and to continue to strongly fight the infidels who have invaded our country," said Aweys. "We have been waiting this unity for so long and thanks to Allah for finally helping us succeed to be a unified mujahideen force."
Aweys did not attend celebrations Thursday in a Mogadishu mosque to mark the unification of the two Islamist groups.
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