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Controversial Pastor Rallies In LA Against Christian Persecution

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A handful of blocks along Wilshire Boulevard were closed to traffic on Saturday as a group of protesters — including a pastor who recently threatened to burn the Koran — held a rally to condemn Islamic persecution of Christians in Egypt and other Middle Eastern nations.

KNX 1070's Chris Seden reports

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Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, spoke briefly to the crowd, which
was expected to number in the thousands.

By early afternoon, however, the crowd tally was likely in the dozens.

Amed Abaza, the lead organizer of the event, claims the reason Christians are being persecuted in countries like Egypt is because of Sharia law, the Koran-mandated system that governs the everyday lives of nearly 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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