Interesting.
Clinton faces Kenya cattle fine over Obama photo
By Daniel Wallis, Reuters
NAIROBI — Kenyan elders may impose a fine on U.S. presidential hopeful
Hillary Clinton, payable in livestock, after a photo of her rival Barack Obama in
robes dragged their people into the race for the White House.
The picture, which appeared on a U.S. Web site, showed the Illinois senator
in a white headdress and traditional Somali attire during a 2006 visit to
Wajir in Kenya's remote northeast.
Obama has battled a whispering campaign by fringe elements who wrongly say
he is Muslim and his aides accused Clinton's campaign of "the most shameful,
offensive fear-mongering" after the photograph was published.
Wajir elders resolved to file an official complaint with the U.S. Embassy in
Nairobi, dropping earlier plans to hold a protest after Friday prayers.
They said they would also convene a traditional Somali court to investigate
the matter. It can impose fines that are payable in cattle, goats or camels.
"We will go ahead with this case whether Senator Clinton or Democratic party
leaders turn up or not," said Mohamed Ibrahim, a member of the clan that
hosted Obama during his trip. "But this whole thing can be avoided if only an
apology is made."
The late father of the Democratic frontrunner was from western Kenya.
Many in the east African country support Obama the way the Irish idolized
President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s -- as one of their own who succeeded
beyond their wildest dreams.
"The clan he was with have every right to be offended," said Hussein Ali, a
32-year-old unemployed man outside the main Jamia Mosque in the capital
Nairobi.
"Obama's enemies are trying to portray him as a terrorist, saying all
Muslims, and especially Somalis, are dangerous men."
MOLLIFIED LOCALS
Clinton's campaign denies authorizing the release of the controversial photo
but says that, with 700 staffers, it could not be certain someone had not
sent it out unofficially.
That has not mollified locals in Wajir, a small desert town near the Somali
border, who demanded Clinton "clear her name."
Other Kenyans questioned the timing of the picture's publication, days
before make-or-break votes in Ohio and Texas next week.
For many Americans, Somalia conjures up disturbing images of dead U.S.
troops being dragged through Mogadishu's dusty streets during the "Black Hawk
Down" battle of 1993.
The U.S. military launched air strikes on the Horn of Africa country last
year in its hunt for al Qaeda, including suspects wanted over the bombing of
the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi in 1988.
"We suspect the intent behind releasing this picture now, just before
Tuesday's very critical vote," said Omar Jamal, head of the St Paul,
Minnesota-based Somali Justice Advocacy Centre.
His lobby group, which works with Somali immigrants in the United States,
has also demanded an apology from Clinton's camp.
"They are trying to make a link between a man who could be the next U.S.
president and a country with al Qaeda terrorist activities. They're trying to
tell citizens, look who you might be voting for," he told Reuters by telephone.
"Everyone is very upset. It's outrageous and undermining."
(Additional reporting by Noor Ali in Isiolo; Editing by Robert Woodward)
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