“The term ‘civilians’ does not exist in Islamic religious law….I’m familiar with religious law. There is no such term as ‘civilians’ in the modern Western sense. People are either of Dar Al-Harb or not…” — Dr. Hani Al-Siba’i, director of the Al-Maqreze Centre for Historical Studies
“Child killed in attack on Somalia peacekeeper base,” from AFP, May 20 (thanks to James):
MOGADISHU (AFP) “” At least two civilians, including a child, were killed in overnight fighting sparked by a rebel attack on an African Union peacekeepers military base, witnesses said on Wednesday.
The attack occured in southern Mogadishu’s former government military academy where peacekeepers from Burundi are based.
Resident Abdiasis Omar said Shebab fighters attacked Jale Siad military academy Tuesday night.
“There was heavy exchange of fire involving machine-guns, mortars and anti-aircraft weapons. Two civilians, one of them a child, died in my neighborhood,” he said.
Several other witnesses confirmed the fatalities.
“A woman lost her son after he was hit in the head by a stray bullet. She was trying to escape from the area but unfortunately the child strapped on her back was killed,” said Muktar Saney Ali, another witness.
Major Bahoku Barigye, spokesman for the AU peacekeepers, confirmed the clashes but said the Shebab attack was not directly targeted at the peacekeeping forces, but an adjacent base housing pro-government militants….
Oh, well, then!