Somali Warlord, No Longer Hunted, Comes Out of Hiding
Gen. Mohammed Farah Aidid, with the U.N. price on his head lifted, emerged from hiding Thursday to celebrate his triumph over foreign opponents with about 4,000 shouting, dancing and drumming supporters.
In a clear recognition of Aidid’s authority, U.S. special envoy Robert B. Oakley met with the powerful faction leader.
Militiamen with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles guarded Aidid when his van drove into a marketplace for his faction’s weekly “peace” rally.
The celebration came two days after the U.N. Security Council lifted an arrest warrant and reward offer of $25,000. It was issued in June after his militiamen were blamed for killing 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The search for Aidid in his southern Mogadishu stronghold had effectively stopped after a fierce battle on Oct. 3 killed 18 American soldiers and more than 300 Somalis.
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