MIDDLE EAST: Around 50 radical Islamist protesters demonstrated outside a Middle East conference yesterday, denouncing Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas for "acquiescence" with the United States.
The protesters, from the Hizb ut-Tahrir (party of freedom) group, which is banned in many countries, were targeting delegates to the one-day international conference on Palestinian reform.
"We want to send a strong message from Muslims in Britain that we reject Mahmoud Abbas' acquiescence with the Americans and other foreign powers," said psychiatrist Imran Waheed. Mr Waheed said the group's aim was to return Israel and the Occupied Territories to governance under Islamic law and one supreme leader.
The protesters chanted "Mahmoud Abbas, you will fail, Muslim land is not for sale" and "traitors, fakes and thieves".
"What Mahmoud Abbas is trying to do with America and Israel is not going to help with the liberation of Palestine," said 26-year-old teacher Nozrul Islam.