mrz
25-11-02, 20:32
Last Exiled Palestinian Militant Leaves Cyprus for Undisclosed Location
By Alex Efty Associated Press Writer
Published: Nov 25, 2002
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - The last of a dozen Palestinian militants exiled to Cyprus to end a monthlong siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity was escorted Monday to an unspecified country after months of searching for a willing host.
Abdullah Daoud, 41, was sent to "a distant non-European country" where his family will join him, Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said. He said he was not authorized to reveal the country providing asylum.
Daoud was exiled to Cyprus in May with 12 other Palestinians under a deal worked out with the European Union. The plan was meant to be a temporary arrangement to end the siege at one of Christianity's holiest shrines - the church built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.
Israeli authorities consider Daoud to be the "most dangerous terrorist," a description that apparently hampered efforts to secure him asylum in any of the European countries that received the other Palestinians. They went to Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Italy after only brief stays on the Mediterranean island.
Daoud was the Palestinian Authority's intelligence chief in Bethlehem when Israeli forces entered the West Bank earlier this year. Israel accuses him of organizing attacks on Israelis, making explosives, smuggling weapons and providing shelter to members of terrorist groups.
But in an interview with The Associated Press last month, Daoud denounced all terror attacks that result in the killing of civilians.
He said he was so outraged by the Oct. 12 terror attack in the Indonesian tourist resort of Bali that killed nearly 200 people that "I decided to appeal to Arabs and Muslims everywhere to denounce the murder of so many innocent people."
Asked about the suicide attacks by fellow Palestinians against Israeli civilians, Daoud said, "I am against operations that result in the killing of innocent people, and that includes the Sept. 11 attack against the Trade Center tower in New York."
Cassoulides said Daoud left Cyprus accompanied by an EU escort, whom he did not identify. EU officials in Brussels confirmed Daoud was sent to a destination outside Europe with an EU diplomat, but would not discuss it further.
Daoud will be joined by his wife, Kifah, 9-year-old daughter Heba and 6-year-old son Youssef.
AP-ES-11-25-02 1502EST
By Alex Efty Associated Press Writer
Published: Nov 25, 2002
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - The last of a dozen Palestinian militants exiled to Cyprus to end a monthlong siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity was escorted Monday to an unspecified country after months of searching for a willing host.
Abdullah Daoud, 41, was sent to "a distant non-European country" where his family will join him, Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said. He said he was not authorized to reveal the country providing asylum.
Daoud was exiled to Cyprus in May with 12 other Palestinians under a deal worked out with the European Union. The plan was meant to be a temporary arrangement to end the siege at one of Christianity's holiest shrines - the church built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.
Israeli authorities consider Daoud to be the "most dangerous terrorist," a description that apparently hampered efforts to secure him asylum in any of the European countries that received the other Palestinians. They went to Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Italy after only brief stays on the Mediterranean island.
Daoud was the Palestinian Authority's intelligence chief in Bethlehem when Israeli forces entered the West Bank earlier this year. Israel accuses him of organizing attacks on Israelis, making explosives, smuggling weapons and providing shelter to members of terrorist groups.
But in an interview with The Associated Press last month, Daoud denounced all terror attacks that result in the killing of civilians.
He said he was so outraged by the Oct. 12 terror attack in the Indonesian tourist resort of Bali that killed nearly 200 people that "I decided to appeal to Arabs and Muslims everywhere to denounce the murder of so many innocent people."
Asked about the suicide attacks by fellow Palestinians against Israeli civilians, Daoud said, "I am against operations that result in the killing of innocent people, and that includes the Sept. 11 attack against the Trade Center tower in New York."
Cassoulides said Daoud left Cyprus accompanied by an EU escort, whom he did not identify. EU officials in Brussels confirmed Daoud was sent to a destination outside Europe with an EU diplomat, but would not discuss it further.
Daoud will be joined by his wife, Kifah, 9-year-old daughter Heba and 6-year-old son Youssef.
AP-ES-11-25-02 1502EST