Islamic militiamen have killed two people in central Somalia after opening
fire in a cinema where people were watching a banned World Cup match.
Sources said the shooting, which also left several people injured, occurred
late Tuesday when soccer fans barred by Islamists from watching the semi-final
match between Germany and Italy protested at the ban.
Militia loyal to the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC), who seized
control of parts of Somalia last month, reportedly killed the cinema owner and a
young girl.
Reports from the scene said the shooting came when militiamen in the central
town of Dusa Mareb -- the home area of the Islamists' hardline leader Sheikh
Hassan Dahir Aweys -- shut a cinema showing the Germany-Italy semi-final.
The SCIC who kicked U.S.-backed alliance of warlords out of Mogadishu then
took control of a large swathe of southern Somalia last month, have introduced
Sharia law in areas under their authority, including a World Cup broadcast ban.
This has included in some parts a ban on cinemas and on broadcasts of World
Cup games because they have carried advertisements for alcohol.
According to reports, the gunmen arrived to close down the cinema in the
town, where a crowd had gathered to watch the Germany-Italy World Cup
semi-final.
Some of the football fans began to protest and according to reports, the
gunmen fired in the air in an attempt to disperse them.
When this failed, shots were fired at the demonstrators and two people were
killed, leaving at least four injured.
World Cup broadcast ban has drawn anger from football lovers in the Horn of
Africa nation with clerics arguing that some elements, notably advertisements
for alcoholic beverages, are evil.
The Islamic courts first began to close down cinema halls showing Hollywood
and Bollywood films last year as their influence expanded, arguing that the
presentations contravened their strict interpretation of Islam.
Somalia has lacked a functioning central authority since the country was
plunged into anarchy with the 1991 ouster of strongman Mohamed Siad Barre.
