Confrontation over German mosque

Muslim demonstrators in favour of the mosque

Stone-throwing protesters have disrupted the opening of a right-wing conference against the building of a giant mosque in Cologne, Germany.

The demonstrators blocked two leaders of the Pro-Cologne movement from entering the conference venue, pursuing them as they sought refuge on a boat.

The "anti-Islamification" event has drawn speakers from across Europe. Its main event is a march on Saturday.

But opponents are predicting a massive counter-demonstration.

German nationalist leaders had hoped to give a press conference at a building in Cologne, but were barracked by a crowd of dozens, and turned away by a city official on orders from the mayor.

They sought refuge on a boat on the Rhine river, which demonstrators then pelted with stones and paintballs. Police arrested several of them, the Associated Press reported.

The Pro-Cologne group said it was trying to build a "European, patriotic, populist right-wing movement", and said it expected politicians from Belgium, Austrian and Italy to attend its conference.

Cologne's mayor called on citizens to give the event "the cold shoulder"

The centrepiece is a rally on Saturday against the building of a large, domed mosque, with two 55m (177ft) minarets, in the city's heavily immigrant Ehrenfeld district.

Construction has been approved by the city council and is due to begin by the end of the year.

Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma called on the city's inhabitants to give the right-wingers "the cold shoulder".

Gabriele Hermani, a spokeswoman for the interior ministry condemned the conference saying: "We believe that such an event organised by populists and extremists in Cologne is damaging to the good co-operation between the city and its Muslim citizens."