Radio Mogadishu Voice of the Great Somali People (in Somali) — 1700 GMT

Somali clerics have mounted a well-organized demonstration to express opposition to interference in our country’s affairs by foreign troops.

The demonstration, which was the fifth (of its kind), and held in the 21 July Square, Mogadishu, was attended by many people from the districts of Banaadir Region and pupils of Quran schools. The rally was addressed by many religious leaders.

The leaders said the Muslim Somali people, if wronged, had a religious obligation to fight the infidels, as God clearly states in the Koran. They went on to say that Somali religious leaders had performed a major role in the propagation of Islam and in defending the Somali people. They were now in the forefront in the field of social issues.

In conclusion, they appealed to the Somali people to oppose those foreigners bent on interfering in their country’s internal affairs.