Somali Rebels Amputate Hands, Feet of Robbery Suspects

Islamist militants in Somalia have carried out public amputations of three men accused of robbery in the southern port city of Kismayo. Two men had both a foot and hand cut off Friday. A third man had only a foot chopped off after an Islamic court realized he was already disabled. Hundreds of people watched the amputations of the three screaming young men. Al-Shabab has imposed its strict version of Islamic law, or Sharia, on much of the south and parts of Mogadishu. Al-Shabab aims to overthrow Somalia's government and to replace it with a system that will impose Sharia. The group has carried out beheadings, stonings and other amputations in the areas it controls. On Wednesday, members of al-Shabab in Mogadishu cut off the right hands of two men accused of theft and whipped another accused of rape.