Somalis Rally In Support Of Bin Laden

Voice of America, September 23, 2001

Thousands of Somalis have denounced American policy toward the Muslim world in a peaceful demonstration the government had tried to discourage.

Demonstrators Sunday gathered at a sports field in south Mogadishu chanting anti-American slogans and shouting support for Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Hardline Islamic leaders addressed the crowd as hundreds of policemen patrolled the area around the demonstration.

Organizers said the protest was not meant as a show of support for Mr. bin Laden but as a stand against American policy toward both Israel and Muslim nations.

Somalia's Transitional National Government has pledged to cooperate with the United States in its war against terrorism and says it has no relations with Mr. bin Laden.

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