Anti Islamist rally in central Somalia
Tue. August 08, 2006 09:07 am.
Mohamed Abdi Farah
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(SomaliNet) Anti Islamist protest attended by hundreds of people has been held on Tuesday in south of Galkaayo, capital town of Mudug region in centralSomalia where SaÂ’ad sub-clan of Habar-gidir clan dominate.
“The rally was violent which caused the injury of three of the protestors when pro Islamist militia opened fire at the people,” eyewitnesses told Somalinet.
The protestors were against a plan by some local intellectuals who wanted to set up an Islamic Court linking to the council of Islamic Courts in the area.
The inhabitants were chanting anti Islamist slogans and they have expressed the total objection to the expansion of Islamic Courts, local official said.
“We don’t want civil war, we don’t need any more bloodshed, we are against the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu,” demonstrators were chanting.
Hundreds of people have gathered a big square in south of Galkayo where supporters of former defeated warlord Abdi Qeydid inhabit and several local religious men delivered their speech.
The leader of the Islamic association of Al-Suna Waljama which is a religious sector Sheikh Ali Ahmed who addressed the protest said it is unnecessary to fuel war in Mudug region noting that people of Galkayo are ready to defend their land against any one who they see as trouble makers.
The rally came as 40 battlewagons of Islamic Courts reached Guri-El town of Galgadud region in a bid to open an Islamic Court partly in Galkayo town.
www.somalinet.com
