"GOD will destroy Washington," he declared defiantly in 1993, as the United States led a series of destructive air strikes on the Somalian capital and sent in their most highly trained soldiers to find him.
He survived. But even BrigGen Muhammad Farah Aidid, Somalia's most notorious warlord, could not escape death forever. His body was laid to rest in the capital Mogadishu yesterday.
Aidid, who last year declared himself President of Somalia, will be remembered by the West as the man who humiliated the United Nations. The UN came to Somalia bring peace and humanitarian aid and left last year, little or nothing accomplished. Even the United States, whose troops entered the country under the cover of tremendous fire power, was forced to admit defeat.
His faction's radio station announced that the 62 year old leader had suffered a heart attack. But sources here say he died of gunshot wounds received last week in fighting for control of the capital.
Asked who was responsible for his death, an old man quoted a Somali proverb "Victory is always claimed by many."
Aidid is reported to have been wounded by fighters loyal to Ali Mahdi Muhammad, his bitter rival for overall power.
The coffin, draped with the Somali flag, was carried to the cemetery atop a Toyota Landcruiser and the national anthem was played as his remains were lowered into the ground. The streets of Mogadishu were unusually calm last night as Muslim prayers were chanted in the mosques.
There was international outrage when Aidid's supporters dragged the corpses of lynched US soldiers through the city's streets. This time three years ago the United States had a $25,000 reward out for Aidid's capture "dead or alive". But the general evaded capture and was feted as a hero and saviour in southern Mogadishu.
Between the UN's arrival late in 1992 and its withdrawal last year, some 100 Blue Helmets and scores of US troops were killed in fighting in and around Mogadishu. Aidid, branded as the UN's most wanted man, was held responsible for most of these killings.
In much of the rest of the country he was vilified as an evil man who would stop at nothing for power. But he was hailed as a hero by his supporters yesterday as his body was taken from his house to a mosque and then on to the cemetery in the southern part of the city which he controlled. Among the mourners, who numbered more than 1,000 people, were many women and children who cried openly.
"We will follow his policies," said coffin bearer by the grave side. "He was a great man. His death will not have been in vain."
Reuter adds Somali analysts and diplomats following the anarchic affairs of the country said that with Aidid off the stage his supporters and enemies could start serious negotiations.
"Hopefully there will now be a push for an accommodation between all the guys," one aid agency official said.
"For organisations such as the United Nations and European. Union, his death certainly means the disappearance of the major bogeyman," said another senior aid worker.
Aidid's United Somali Congress Somali National Alliance is still very much alive. It appointed committees with 30 members to take charge on both the military and political fronts. And Aidid's militiamen were ordered to remain in their positions until further orders.
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