Radical Syrian cleric 'shot dead'

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Friday, 28 September 2007, 20:19 GMT 21:19 UK

Radical Syrian cleric 'shot dead'

A Syrian cleric suspected of recruiting foreign militants
to fight in Iraq has been shot dead in the northern Syrian
city of Aleppo, his aides have said.

Sheikh Mahmoud Abu al-Qaqaa was shot several times by a
gunman as he left the Imam Mosque after Friday prayers.

The gunman tried to flee the scene of the shooting, but
was chased by a crowd and later arrested, the aides said.

Correspondents say Abu al-Qaqaa was a charismatic Sunni
cleric with thousands of radical Islamist followers in
Syria.

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Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7019253.stm

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Source: Associated Press

Muslim cleric suspected in smuggling fighters to Iraq shot dead in northern Syria

The Associated Press
Published: September 28, 2007

DAMASCUS, Syria: A Sunni Muslim cleric who in the past has
been suspected of recruiting militants to fight in Iraq was
shot dead as he left a mosque after Friday prayers in the
northern city of Aleppo, aides said.

Mohammed Gul Aghassi, 34, was instantly killed by a gunman
who pumped five bullets into his body as he left the Imam
Mosque where he regularly preaches after the noon prayers.

-snip-

"The one who carried out the assassination was a prisoner
of the American forces in Iraq and has been released some
time ago. He is known to us," Abou Khashbeh told AP.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/28/africa/ME-GEN-Syria-Cleric-Killed.php