Islamic radicals hack news website

THE EDITOR of a Kosovo newspaper claims that Islamist radicals have attacked his website because it was covering the trial of a Kosovar charged with terrorism.

Berat Buzhala said the website was blocked for 10 hours Tuesday and hackers left a warning to the "anti-Islamic newspaper" to stop ridiculing Muslims.

The Express is an Albanian language daily and had been covering the trial of Hysen Sherifi, 24, an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo.

He and six Americans were arrested two weeks ago in North Carolina on suspicion of conducting military-style training in preparation for "violent jihad" in Jordan, Pakistan, Israel and Kosovo.

Sherifi had no criminal record in Kosovo and was not considered a security threat there.

What miffed the hackers was that the Express published transcripts of conversations between the group's alleged leader, Daniel Patrick Boyd, and other suspects.

Apparently reporting the news that Boyd's home and cars had more than 27,000 rounds of ammunition, 26 weapons, gas masks, a handbook on how authorities respond to acts of terrorism, and the text of an Islamic call to wage holy war against Americans, was taking the mickey out of the Muslim faith.

The Express's readers are mostly Muslim but they appear not to regard the secular newspaper as antagonistic to their religion.

Buzhala said the newspaper has sought support from Islamic leaders in Kosovo and is urging them to denounce interference against the website. µ