Somalia: Women protesters force Islamic militia to intervene in
hospital row BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS , March 02, 2000 Text of report by
Somaliland newspaper `Jamhuuriya' Women's organizations yesterday staged a huge protest
rally in Mogadishu to condemn a group of gunmen who have taken over a hospital in south
Mogadishu which cares for orphans. According to our reporter in southern Somalia, Hadiis
Muhammad, hundreds of women disturbed by the takeover marched through various streets and
public squares in Mogadishu to voice their opposition.The women called on those who took
over the hospital to leave it. The demonstration began early in the morning and only ended
in the late afternoon when Islamic courts' militia stepped in to diffuse the tension and
promised to kick the bandits out of the hospital. The Islamic militia later cordoned off
the SOS hospital buildings where the orphans are cared for. Source: `Jamhuuriya',
Hargeysa, in Somali 2 Mar 00 p1