As the annual Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj kicks off in Saudi Arabia, many of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha under hardship. The effects of previous wars coupled with the devastation from natural disasters in there country has stopped them short in their rejoice of the annual holiday. Al Jazeera’s Clayton Swisher reports.
Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s leader, has made headlines in Rome, Italy, where he is attending a UN global food conference. But it was his activities away from the summit which grabbed the media’s attention. The Libyan leader sparked controversy by encouraging a group of 200 young women in the staunchly Roman Catholic country to convert to Islam. Clayton Swisher reports.
Al Jazeera has obtained exclusive footage that appears to show US forces bombing one of their own outposts. Three US soldiers are alleged to have died in the attack, which was called in after the post was overrun by Taliban fighters. The incident happened two months ago in Kunar province, and it is believed to be having repercussions on the way US-led forces operate. Al Jazeera’s Clayton Swisher joined US troops on patrol.