ABU DHABI Ñ Kuwait has launched a crackdown on Islamic militants in
wake of the shooting death of a U.S. Marine which officials fear could signal an Al Qaida-backed campaign against
U.S. forces in the sheikdom.
Government sources said about 50 suspected militants have been detained
and questioned over the last two days in connection with Tuesday's attack
that killed a U.S. marine and wounded another. The sources said the sheikdom
has come under strong pressure from the United States to round up Islamic
activists who could be harboring or encouraging insurgents.
"It's not a purely Kuwaiti matter," Kuwaiti Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali
Al Mumin said. "There is a lot of connection with the situation in this
region."
On late Wednesday, U.S. soldiers fired toward suspected Kuwaiti
attackers north of Camp Doha, the largest concentration of American ground
forces in the sheikdom. The soldiers later said they felt they were under
threat by a Kuwaiti motorist who was believed to have flashed a firearm.
Nobody was hurt.
[On Thursday, three U.S. marines were wounded during urban warfare
training. U.S. officials said the marines were injured in an accidental
explosion.]
Kuwaiti officials have acknowledged the detention of dozens of people.
They said the attack on the marines was an attempt to harm the sheikdom's
relations with the United States amid expectations of a war against Iraq.
"Our efforts will continue till we capture those who tried to harm
Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people," Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Al Ahmad Al
Jaber Al-Sabah said. "This is the first incident of this kind on the land of
security and peace. This crime will not affect relations with the United
States. The challenges of terrorism must be faced with a united effort."
The two Kuwaiti gunmen who attacked the marines were killed in an
exchange of fire with U.S. troops. Kuwaiti officials and the Pentagon have said they were linked to Al
Qaida and trained in Afghanistan.
The United States said it has joined in the investigation. Officials said the Al Qaida link is a key focus.
Officials said those arrested were suspected of helping launch the
attack on the island of Failaka in the Persian Gulf. The insurgents were
found with three AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition.
"The investigation is ongoing," Kuwaiti State Minister Mohammed Salem Al
Sabah said. "We identified the attackers and we are taking appropriate steps
against those who we think also provided assistance to the terrorists."
