Thousands of Islamist supporters staged on Friday in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia mass rally against the UN decision of easing the arms embargo and deploying regional peacekeepers in the country – similar rallies were held today in several towns in the areas controlled by the Islamic Courts Union.

It is the third demonstration of its kind by the ICU within weeks where officials conducted massive recruitment in preparation for war with foriegn troops in Somalia.

The protest has been held in the second main soccer stadium in north of the capital where thousands of people gathered after Friday prayers to show their protest against the UN resolution on Somalia, which authorizes regional peacekeepers in Somalia to back the shaky transitional federal government based in Baidoa city, 240km southwest of the capital.

Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the leader of Islamic Courts Union who addressed the rally reiterated that ICU fighters with the help of the Somali society is determined to defend the country off what he called 'the advancing enemy'.

"We (Islamic Courts Union) are calling on all Somalis to get prepared for Jihad war on the Ethiopian troops that violated into the soil of Somalia."

During the rally, special unit of Islamic fighters showed a military exercise on the Stadium field which was admired by spectators at demonstration.

Shortly after the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted the US draft proposal on Somalia, the senior ICU officials voiced their concern over the decision and described it as clear aggression and provocative step aimed to nullify the Islamic rise in the country for the first time in 15 years.

The men and the women in the demonstration were separated apart with most of the veiled women were holding AK 47 rifles showing their readiness to engage war with outsiders.

"The UN decision is a new colonization in Somalia" said in one of the portraits displayed at the occasion.

Also school boys could be seen at scene carrying guns and on number of pickup trucks known as ‘Technicals’ roaming inside the stadium.

Similar anti UN decision rallies where supporters of ICU demonstrated their anger over the coming regional peace keepers were held in the country in central and southern Somalia.

In Kismayo, southern port city, and the capital of Lower Juba region, hundreds of people gathered at the main Liberal square after the Friday prayer and burnt US and Ethiopia flags.

‘Down US, down UN and down Ethiopia, people were shouting.

Islamic officials in Kismayo urged the people to join the war against what they called 'the invaders to Somalia'.

"We are absolutely against any foreign troops in our country, we are calling on the world to help rebuild our nation instead of sending soldiers... we see outside forces as killers of the current peace in the country," Amina Hassan, one of the protestors in Kismayo said.

"I don’t know why the Security Council allowed to deploy troops in our country as long as we are now enjoying in peace and stability through the Islamic Courts which did a lot for the long suffering Somalis," Ali Mohamed Haji, another protestor told reporters at the rally.

In Beledwein, the capital of Hiran province, hundreds of pro Islamic people took to the streets after the Friday prayer chanting anti US, UN and Ethiopia slogans and vowed to pick up the gun for defending the country against the crusaders.
 

Source: Somalinet