Religious leader condemns attacks on Afghanistan

One of the best-known religious leaders in Mogadishu, has condemned the US-led attacks on Afghanistan. Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Muhyidin told IRIN on Tuesday that attacks on Afghanistan were unacceptable and unjustifiable. "I condemned the attacks on America, because they were wrong," he said. "I am also condemning these attacks [on Afghanistan], because they are not only wrong, but will accomplish nothing other than to increase the misery of the poor Muslim people of Afghanistan," he added. Shaykh Sharif, is one of the most powerful tariqah (orthodox Sunni mystical Islamic order) clerics in the city, and is regarded as a moderate in Somali religious circles, a Somali source told IRIN. "He hates fundamentalists and is vehemently opposed to Al-Ittihad al-Islami," said the source. Al-Ittihad al-Islami is one of the groups whose assets the US has frozen following the 11 September attacks.