Obama scores last minute endorsement by Sudanese al-Qaeda-linked Islamist leader

(AFP) “You know what ‘Baraka’ means in Arabic? Blessing,” says veteran Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi, who is linked to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the 1990s.

Turabi told AFP news agency that he hopes U.S. President Barack Obama will win a second term on Tuesday.

“Obama of course,” Turabi said when asked about his U.S. presidential preference during an interview.

“He’s gentle towards the Muslims generally,” Turabi said, and referred to Obama’s childhood spent in Muslim-majority Indonesia, and his Kenyan father who was raised a Muslim.

Obama uses the word “terrorism” far less than his predecessor George W. Bush, and his name is a variant of the Arabic word “Baraka,” Turabi said.

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