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German anti-Islam rally cancelled after clashes
COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) - German police cancelled an anti-Islamic congress planned for Saturday in Cologne after leftist opponents of the rally clashed with its right-wing backers.
The group Pro-Cologne called the rally to oppose a decision by local authorities in Cologne, Germany's fourth largest city, to allow the construction of a mosque with a high dome and minarets.
It invited like-minded nationalist groups from around Europe to join the "Stop Islam" rally to fight what it called the "Islamisation and immigration invasion" of Germany and Europe.
"The rally has been cancelled," a police spokesman said. Many protesters cheered the announcement. A spokesman for Pro-Cologne said they were surprised by the cancellation and would hold a news conference later on Saturday.
Police said 40,000 people protested against the rally. It had been expected to attract 1,500 people but only dozens made it.
Most of the protesters were peaceful, although roads and rail lines leading to the centre of Cologne were blocked by demonstrators in sit-down strikes.
But a Friday evening gathering of Pro-Cologne participants on a Rhine River pleasure boat turned violent when stones hurled by leftist protesters from the shore broke windows. There were further clashes between small numbers on both sides on Saturday.
Three thousand police were on duty to keep the two sides apart. One police officer was injured.
Left-wing demonstrators blocked a rail line which a group of 150 right-wing activists were using to travel into the city centre from the airport, police said.
Some of the protesters carried placards reading "Nazis out of Cologne" and "Temples, synagogues, churches and mosques -- everything's okay".
"We're here to show racism the red card," said Cologne mayor Fritz Schramma. "Racists and extremists aren't welcome."
The congress has also sparked anger in Islamic countries. Earlier this month, Iran called on the French presidency of the European Union to stop it.
Construction of mosques has met opposition in some European countries. Some critics equate them with "Islamisation" while others worry they could be used to recruit militants.
About 3.2 million Muslims live in Germany, more than half of whom are of Turkish origin.
(Writing by Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin; Editing by Mariam Karouny and Angus MacSwan)
