March 29, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 25, 1424

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RIYADH, March 28: The imam of Makkah’s Grand Mosque on Friday called for an immediate halt to the war on Iraq as Muslims across Saudi Arabia prayed for Baghdad’s victory.

“This war must stop immediately. Its continuity will only fuel hatred and disputes” between nations, said Sheikh Saleh bin Humayed, who prayed to God to “save our brothers in Iraq and defeat the aggressors”.

In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Saleh, who is also speaker of the Saudi Shura, said launching the war on Baghdad was a “grave mistake”, and urged Muslims to unite ranks to ward off their enemies.

Many imams at mosques in the capital Riyadh and other cities devoted their sermons at Friday prayers to vent anger on the invasion of Iraq.

Others have been holding special prayers at night to seek God’s assistance for Iraqis.

Muslims in Saudi Arabia are seething at scenes of destruction and killings in Iraq, and religious leaders have called for jihad against the United States.—AFP