Kuwait again supports Palestinian suicide attacks
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, June 7, 2001
ABU DHABI — Kuwait has again expressed support for Palestinian
suicide bombings in a move that has annoyed the United States.
It was the second time in a week that the sheikdom has deemed
Palestinian suicide attacks as a legitimate means in the battle against
Israel.
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sabah Al Ahmed said martyrdom is a legitimate act
and
again supported the Palestinian suicide bombing on Friday in which 20
Israelis were killed outside a Tel Aviv discotheque. Al Ahmed's statement
was the only message of support expressed by a U.S. ally.
Sabah termed the Tel Aviv attack as both "legal and heroic." The acting
prime minister and foreign minister said on Tuesday that the sheikdom's
support was not in response to Hamas, which claimed responsibility for
the attack and receives millions of dollars from the Kuwaiti royal family.
"We were not asked [to say this] and I will not accept such a request
from anyone," Sabah said. "I do believe in this and I was not asked to say
so or pressured by anybody."
Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he rejected
Kuwait's support for suicide bombings. U.S. officials said Washington would
probably raise the issue with the Gulf Arab state.
Thursday, June 7, 2001
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