31 Oct 2009
Hundreds of Somalis, in response to an al-Shabaab militia request, have held anti-Israeli protests in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

A large crowd of people voiced their opposition to Israel's aggressions against Palestinians by chanting anti-Israeli slogans in the streets of Mogadishu, AFP reported.

According to eye-witnesses, the demonstrations took place in northern Mogadishu which is controlled by al-Shabaab fighters.

They chanted slogans such as "Israel should be destroyed, God is great".

"They are killing your Muslim brothers and sisters and stopping them from performing prayers in the holy sites of Allah," a top al-Shabaab commander, Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Shangole told the crowd.

Shangole said that the time is now ripe for going to war with Israel to liberate the sacred cities.

"You are aware of Israel's terrorist acts against Muslim Palestinians. They ruin the holy shrines of Muslims," he added.

Al-Shabaab commander, Abdifatah Aweys Abu-Hamsa, said the group's fighters "are prepared to liberate and defend the holy mosque of Al-Aqsa."

Abu-Hamsa pointed out that a special military unit named Quds Brigade will be set up for the purpose of liberating and defending Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Tensions have been high in the Palestinian territories in recent weeks after Israeli extremists backed by police forces entered the holy Al-Aqsa mosque and clashed with Palestinian youths who tried to defend the site.

The Israeli assault sparked mass demonstrations in numerous Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Turkey.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference has also warned Israel of "dangerous consequences" for acts of sacrilege in the holy mosque.