Australia





THE mother of the boy who was holding the sign calling for the beheading of those who insult the Muslim prophet has handed herself into police.



The woman, who said she was unaware the protest would turn violent, will not be charged and faces no further action, authorities say.



Meanwhile, a teenager has been arrested for smashing the window of a police car at the weekend and Islamic leaders have met to discuss how to calm the unrest.



ISLAMIC leaders will front the press today in an effort to spread calm after violent demonstrations erupted in Sydney on the weekend over a controversial YouTube film that denigrates the Prophet Muhammad



On Saturday protesters clashed with police in Sydney’s CBD in response to the film Innocence of Muslims which has sparked similar protests around the world.






Distressed by the violence, representatives from the Islamic council of Victoria will give a press conference alongside Egyptian Consul-General Khaled Rizk, a representative of the Mufti of Australia and Sheik Riad Galil from the West Heidelberg Mosque at St. Verena and St Bishoy Hall in La Trobe St, Melbourne at 10am.



The leaders are expected to call for calm while continuing to condemn the film.



In a statement the Islamic Council of Victoria said it was time for the Islamic community to come together to discuss any issues of concern.



“The defamation of religion, its symbols and teachings is incompatible with Christian and Islamic values; as people of faith Coptic and Islamic leaders believe that any differences they may have should be addressed with wisdom, patience and mutual respect,” the statement said.



Muslim leaders in Sydney are also set to reveal their response to Saturday's brutal demonstration.



An emergency meeting of Islamic groups was convened in Sydney last night to formulate a plan to quell any repeat of the clashes.



The Lebanese Muslim Association and the Islamic Council of NSW are expected to urge calm when they address the media in Lakemba in Sydney's west at 9.30am today.



Community groups and politicians of all stripes have condemned Saturday's violence, while authorities are bracing for fresh violence.



Meanwhile, NSW detectives will continue trying to trace the as-yet-unidentified figures who used text messages and social networking sites to organise the protests, which quickly escalated into a riot.