Somali adulterer killed; lover will be

MERCA, Somalia, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A Somali adulterer has been stoned to death by Islamic fundamentalists, a fate awaiting his lover once she gives birth, an official says.

The BBC reported Friday Abas Hussein Abdirahman, 33, was killed in front of about 300 people in Merca. Al-Shabab official Sheik Suldan Aala Mohamed said Abdirahman had admitted his guilt before an Islamic court before his execution.

"He was screaming and blood was pouring from his head during the stoning. After 7 minutes he stopped moving," a witness told the BBC.

An official from the al-Shabab Islamic group said Abdirahman's girlfriend would be killed after she has had her baby, the British broadcaster said.

Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said al-Shabab is harming Islam's image by killing people and harassing women.

"Their actions have nothing to do with Islam," the president, a moderate Muslim, said.

"They are forcing women to wear very heavy clothes, saying they want them to properly cover their bodies but we know they have economic interests behind -- they sell these kinds of clothes and want to force people to buy them."