Jihad the other version
RIYADH Saudi Arabia): Saudi Arab* * cMrl reHgtou* legislator on Thursday deerr.d Iraqi Presidrnt Saddam Hua fon a an "cneny of God." and dubbed the U1M onainu^u against him a Jihad. or holy war. report* AP
'Jihad against Saddam, the enemy of God. M one of the greatest forms of holy war for the sake of God." raid She* Abdul-Aziz Din Baz. the kingdom's leading tnlcrprctcr of Islamic Jurisprudence. In an Interview with the rcHgtou*
Ilfs statement was broadcast by the Saudi state-run Riyadh Radio and distributed by the official Saudi Press Agency.
He said It was the duty of Islamic nations to help Kuwaitis fight the Injustice of being dislodged by forte.
Ik- said that Islamic precept* allow any Muslim nation* to seek help from non Islamic powers "because they arc forced to do so ... to deter a heretic and unjust (Iraqi) leader "
The Muslim scholar was clearly defending the Saudi Kilnsl pro-Iraqi fundamentalists who judrd a.
Invitation to the United Stales and other non
Muslim powers to check the Iraqi Invasion
Jihad carried Its .significance from the days of prophet Mohammed 14 centuries ago when Ms men were spreading the faith. often with the force of the sword
Saddam himself ha* repeatedly Issued calls for jihad a»un»l the multinational force He based his calls on the con tent ton that the presence of non-Muslim troop* In Saudi Arabia has desecrated the cradle of Islam
Vampire's rampage
BRISBANE (Australia): A woman who allegedly claimed to be a vampire stabbed a man to death to drink his blood, a prosecutor said Thursday, reports AP.
Tracey Avril Wigginton,25. has already pleaded guilty to murdering Edward Clyde Baldock. 47. in October 1989 Three other women Kim Aileen Jervis and Tracey Ann Waugh, both 24. and Usa Maree l*taschinski. 25 arc on trial after pleading not guilty to murder charges.
In bls opening address to ihc Brisbane Supreme Court Jury. Prosecutor Adrian Gunde inch said the four women planned a random killing. After drinking champagne at a nightclub one night, they left tn a car to stalk a victim, he said.
He said Baldock was offered a ride, then was stabbed to death by Ms Wigginton. He was stabbed about 15 times with two knives. Gundclach said.
According to Gundertach. when Ms. Ptaschinskl asked Ms. Wigginton later If she had been fed. she said yes. Indicating she drank Baldock's blood.
Gundcrlach said the three women told police Ms. Wigginton claimed to be a vampire and that she craved blood, could not cal solid food nnd lived on blood. The prosecutor said Ms. Wigginton allegedly told al least one of the women that she was Involved In Satan worship, witchcraft and blood drinking.
10,000-yuan beggars
BEIJING: The China Youth News yesterday denounced beggars, claiming just eight per cent of those begging 'for money in the southern city of Guangzhou were really needy,' reports AFP.
Begging has become a means of becoming wealthy for an Increasing number of unscrupulous Chinese particularly around the Chinese New Year festival and the two trade fairs held in Guangzhou each year, the paper said.
A large number of Chinese In the poorer provinces, have migrated to the areas of faster development seeking employment but have been left without any resources.
The youth daily snld, "10.000:yuan beggars' have now appeared--a, reference to the "10.000-yuan peasants" who have grown rich since China relaxed its economic policies in the early 1980s.
The newspaper claimed many of the beggars arc Involved in the currency black market, adding most make so much they are able to send large- sums of money back to their villages to help finance Ihc construction of houses or weddings. a particularly expensive afkiir in .China
He stole 20,000 books
DES MOINES (Iowa); An American was convicted on Thursday of stealing 20 million dollars worth of rac books manuscripts and antiques from llberarics across the United States, reports Reuter.
Stephen Blumberg. 42. was found quilty by a Jury of theft and transportation of stolen goods and could face up to 35 years In prison and a one million dollar fine.
He stole books In quantities that no one can Imagine, said Linda Reade, an assistant prosecutor.
Jurors convicted Blumberg of hoarding at least 20,000 books that he stole for more than 300 libraries and museums across Ihc country. Including a 1493 book described as the last world history that docs not mention Christopher Columbus.
Another book Blumberg stole was the Nuremburg Chronicles, by Hartmann Schcdcl. which experts valued at between 35.000 and 75.000 dollars.
Blumberg's lawyers conceded he stole the books but used a defence of insanity, claiming Blumberg had battled mental illness for 25 years.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents seized the books In Blumbergs home in OlluWu. Iowa in March 1990. a witness said Blumberg had m.idc plans to move the foot to Mexico because he knew flw FBI was after him.