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| Somali Islamists stage execution | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Somalia's Islamic courts have staged their first execution since seizing the capital, Mogadishu, in June. | |
| Hundreds turned out to witness a 25-year-old man convicted of killing a businessman shot dead by firing squad. | |
| The Union of Islamic Courts has also banned the stimulant khat during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. | |
| Many Somali men, especially militiamen, spend hours chewing khat. The UIC has flogged users of other drugs but this is their first crackdown on khat. | |
| The militia had their faces covered and they fired until Abdulkadir was dead Witness Ahmed Mukhtar Unlike their secular rivals, Islamist gunmen are not allowed to chew khat. | The militia had their faces covered and they fired until Abdulkadir was dead Witness Ahmed Mukhtar Unlike their secular rivals, Islamist gunmen are not allowed to chew khat. |
| But the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says it is still openly on sale in Mogadishu as the Muslim holy month has not yet started. | But the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says it is still openly on sale in Mogadishu as the Muslim holy month has not yet started. |
| 'Painful' | 'Painful' |
| Abdulkadir Mohamed Diriye was executed after being convicted of killing a businessman while stealing his mobile phone. | Abdulkadir Mohamed Diriye was executed after being convicted of killing a businessman while stealing his mobile phone. |
| "The militia had their faces covered and they fired until Abdulkadir was dead," witness Ahmed Mukhtar told the AFP news agency. | "The militia had their faces covered and they fired until Abdulkadir was dead," witness Ahmed Mukhtar told the AFP news agency. |
| "It was very scary to see a person killed," said another witness, Amina Osman. | "It was very scary to see a person killed," said another witness, Amina Osman. |
| "It was violent but Abdlkadir killed someone while robbing him. The Koran says justice is the only solution even if it is painful." | "It was violent but Abdlkadir killed someone while robbing him. The Koran says justice is the only solution even if it is painful." |
| The courts are divided between moderates and hardliners who want to set up a Taleban-style state. | The courts are divided between moderates and hardliners who want to set up a Taleban-style state. |
| Some cinemas have also been closed down for showing foreign football matches and films. | Some cinemas have also been closed down for showing foreign football matches and films. |
| Security has improved in the city and the UIC say there is no need for foreign peacekeepers. | Security has improved in the city and the UIC say there is no need for foreign peacekeepers. |
| The African Union has agreed to a request from the weak interim government based in Baidoa, 250km from Mogadishu, to send peacekeepers. | The African Union has agreed to a request from the weak interim government based in Baidoa, 250km from Mogadishu, to send peacekeepers. |
| On Friday, Islamist supporters again held a protest against the idea. | On Friday, Islamist supporters again held a protest against the idea. |
| The UIC and the government are due to hold talks in Sudan later this month aimed at preventing conflict. | The UIC and the government are due to hold talks in Sudan later this month aimed at preventing conflict. |
| The group denies US charges that they are linked to al-Qaeda. |