The President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, was in Timbuktu, Republic of Mali on Monday 10th April 2006 to participate in celebrations marking the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).

Arriving at Timbuktu International airport by 12 noon on Monday 10th April, the President took part in evening prayers at Timbuktu's stadium together with other Muslim leaders, prominent among whom was Libya's leader, Colonel Muammar Ghadaffi, President Wade of Senegal, Mauritanian leader, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, President of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, host President Amadou Toumani Toure and a host of important Islamic leaders and figures from all over the world.

Libyan Leader, Colonel Muammar Ghadaffi, who gave the keynote sermon or 'Kouthba' spoke about the universality of Islam and described Islam's Holiest City, Mecca, as the first place in the world where a place of prayer was established for the worship of Allah or God by the Prophet Abraham, known as Ibrahim (may peace be upon him).

He extolled the virtues of Islam and preached about the authenticity of the Holy Quran, which he said mentions Jesus Christ with great reverence as well as other prophets mentioned in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

With a large congregation of Muslims who had assembled at the ancient Malian City for this year's MOULID-UN-NABI or the birthday of Islam's holy Prophet, Colonel Muammar Ghadaffi said that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) died on his birthday and went on to highlight his exemplary attributes and personality. Describing him as a man of humble beginnings with an illiterate background, he said it was a miracle that the Prophet was able to narrate in impeccable Arabic language what constitutes the Quran and said that the Quran is the word of Allah or God and that the Holy Prophet was the messenger of God.

The two prayer sessions of Maghrib and Isha'a were led by Libya's Colonel Muammar Ghadaffi while the Fatiha was recited by the Chief Imam of the Mosque of Djingarei-Ber and other Islamic scholars of Timbuktu.

After the Monday evening prayers President Kabbah received at his hotel the Head of State of Mauritania, Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall. The two Heads of State spoke about the need for closer bilateral ties and the sharing of experience. The Mauritanian leader said he was impressed with the democratization process undertaken by President Kabbah in Sierra Leone and that he looked forward to benefiting from that experience.

Before his departure from Timbuktu on Tuesday 11th April President Kabbah met with Colonel Muammar Ghadaffi in a desert tent outside the old city for bilateral talks and thereafter visited the Ahmad Baba Islamic Centre, named after one of Timbuktu's most learned and celebrated sixteenth century scholars, Ahmad Baba.

-End-