SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2001
Somali protesters, imams condemn attacks
MOGADISHU: Hundreds of people took to the streets of Mogadishu, the capital of predominantly Muslim Somalia, on Friday to condemn the US-led military strikes in Afghanistan.
The demonstrators shouted slogans like "America is an aggressor", "We shall support the distressed people of Afghanistan" and "Bombs can't solve conflicts."
But contrary to previous demonstrations in the Somali capital, none of protesters carried the portrait of Osama bin Laden, Washington's prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Imams who preached in Mogadishu mosques on Friday condemned the attacks on Afghanistan and told their followers to show Islamic solidarity with those "suffering in Palestine and other Muslim countries."
"The attacks on Afghanistan, the occupation of Palestine and Kashmir in India are a calculated move to harass Muslims. This is the work of crusaders," Sheikh Ali Sheikh Mohamud, better known as Sheikh Ali Dherre, said after prayers at Sharif Muhsin mosque in Mogadishu's Shibis district.
"Please help your Muslim brothers and don't allow the crusaders to kill the Muslims one by one.
"Today the target is Afghanistan and maybe tomorrow another Muslim country. If bin Laden committed the September 11 attacks on the US, that should be verified by neutral investigations," Ali Dherre said.
Ali Dheere, formerly president of the Islamic Courts in north Mogadishu, was recently appointed president of the Mogadishu Supreme Court by the current Somali Transitional National Government (TNG). ( AFP )
Copyright © 2001 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.