Ethiopia Muslims Celebrate Eid Al-Fitr

Thousands of Muslims showed up in Addis Ababa early Monday for prayer of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.



"This is time for hope and progress," Ahmed Abdurahman, President of the Addis Ababa Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, told the congregation at the Addis Ababa stadium.



He called on the faithful to pursue peace in the country, blaming "foreign elements" and "non-Muslims" for recent clashes between Muslim protesters and police at the Grand Anwar Mosque in the Ethiopian capital.



"Our country is on the path of growth and development," he said, going on to call on Muslims to benefit from the ongoing development in Ethiopia.



Efrem Gizaw, the head of the Labor and Social Affairs Bureau, called on Addis Ababa Muslims to participate in peace-building activities and to prevent the efforts of "those who do not want to see us develop".



He said the city administration has been doing successful works in expanding utilities such as electricity, water supply, mobile networks, roads and intra-city railway.



Muslims in 100 countries across the globe celebrated the Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Monday.



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