Protesters In Maldives Want Stricter Islamic Limitations

AP reports that over 3,000 people-- at the call of the opposition Justice Party and other groups-- protested in the capital of the Maldives on Friday, calling on the government to end "anti-Islamic" activities.  Protesters want an end to the sale of alcohol, the closing of brothels operating as massage parlors, destruction of monuments (seen as idols) presented by other countries to the Maldives last month for a South Asian summit (see prior posting), and scrapping of proposed direct flights to Israel. Maldives President Mohammad Nasheed however said he supports the moderate brand of Islam that has traditionally been practiced in the country.  He said: "We can't achieve development by going backwards to the stone age or being ignorant."