By Rasputin on Thursday, December 6, 2001 - 07:45 pm:
Updated on 2001-12-06 10:50:56
MOSCOW, December 06 (PNS): A new Osama bin Laden has been found in Ukraine, even as the hunt for the terror suspect wanted for attacks on American cities intensifies in Afghanistan.
A Ukrainian citizen Elena Saled, who heads Zaparozhe district unit of the political organisation Edina Rodina, or United Motherland has decided to change her name into Osama bin Laden out of her fascination for the Saudi-born renegade, reports reaching here say.
Saled, according Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) driven by love and respect for the most wanted man on the planet, applied to the local "Zaks" (marriage and birth registration office) with all seriousness to change her full name into Osama bin Laden. The registration office had to oblige.
When asked to explain the motive behind her name change, she said bin Laden is her hero, as he turned out to be the one who could challenge the Americans who have trying to impose their values, way of life, political system over the world, local media reports say.
"I am dead against American hegemony and arrogance, and I salute Osama bin Laden for his courage to wage a war against the U.S. arrogance," said Saled.
"Although I do not approve all his methods of fighting American arrogance and neo-imperialism, I appreciate his courage to challenge the world's most brutal power that wants to thrust its will over all other nations." She added while talking to the group of journalists.
Ukraine, like Russia, may be a partner of the U.S.-led international anti-terrorist coalition, but a lot of people in these two Slavic states, seem to nourish sympathy for bin Laden, who through his suspected assault on American cities dealt a heavy blow to its arrogance.
People here may not vociferously praise bin Laden in public but it is not uncommon when people here rejoice, "America with all its arrogance has been punished."
End.