Macedonia: Armed group seizes Islamic Community

"Worshipers block Islamic Community building"

SKOPJE -- A group of some 50 worshipers on Monday blocked the seat of the Islamic Community in Skopje, Macedonian and Albanian language media are reporting.

Previously, reports from the Macedonian capital said that a group of 50 armed persons had seized the building.

The Macedonian daily Vesti is reporting that the people gathered there today are "dissatisfied because of the dismissal of the Skopje mufti," Ibrahim Shabani.

Shabani and his supporters seized the Islamic Community headquarters on Monday, announcing they would "temporarily manage the organization."

All this comes after Islamic Religious Community in Macedonia head Sulejman Rexhepi on Wednesday, after he was reelected to this post, sacked Shabani. According to reports, "he did not wish to explain why he held a secret session in Kondovo where he was unlawfully reelected."

The Macedonian Interior Ministry, that is tasked with providing security to state and religious institutions, has not yet officially come out with a statement.

According to Skopje-based media, the incident happened as a 48-hour ultimatum, that Mufti Ibrahim Shabani gave to the head of the Islamic Religious Community in Macedonia Sulejman Rexhepito apologize for his insults, was about to expire.

The daily Dnevnik recently wrote that Rexhepi and Shabani recently engaged in verbal then physical altercation in front of the Opera House in Skopje.

The fight came after a dinner organized by the Community, and after Rexhepi referred to Shabani's associates as criminals, reported the paper.

After they quarreled in the parking lot in front of the Opera, Rexhepi "beat the mufti up."

However, the...