MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Scores of Somali residents fled the warlord stronghold of Jowhar on Wednesday fearing a bloody offensive for control of the town by Islamic militia who took Mogadishu two days ago.

Gunmen loyal to sharia courts seized the capital on Monday from a self-styled anti-terrorism coalition of warlords, widely believed to be backed by Washington. Their victory came after fierce fighting that had killed 350 people since February.

Unless the international community can design safety valves to check American aggression, more and more nation states will opt for a nuclear deterrence capability. And then the next American war could well be a nuclear war.

Muslim extremists, who have demanded death for Rahman as an apostate for rejecting Islam, warned the decision would touch off protests across this religiously conservative country. Some clerics previously vowed to incite Afghans to kill Rahman if he was let go.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan man who allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death, a judge said Sunday.

The defendant, Abdul Rahman, was arrested last month after his family went to the police and accused him of becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada told Associated Press in an interview. Such a conversion would violate the country's Islamic laws.

Rahman, who is believed to be 41, was charged with rejecting Islam when his trial started last week, the judge said.

During the hearing, the defendant allegedly confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago when he was 25 and working as a medical aid worker for Afghan refugees in neighboring Pakistan, Mawlavezada said.

Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects their religion should be sentenced to death.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," the judge said. "It is an attack on Islam. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, said the case was the first of its kind in Afghanistan.

He said that he had offered to drop the charges if Rahman changed his religion back to Islam, but the defendant refused.

"In the middle of all the mayhem surrounding the Danish cartoons controversy, a group of Arab and Muslim youth have set up this website to express their honest opinion, as a small attempt to show the world that the images shown of Arab and Muslim anger around the world are not representative of the opinions of all Arabs. We whole-heartedly apologize to the people of Denmark, Norway and all the European Union over the actions of a few, and we completely condemn all forms of vandalism and incitement to violence that the Arab and Muslim world have witnessed. We hope that this sad episode will not tarnish the great friendship that our peoples have fostered over decades."

"When confronted with such a situation, we deplore the use of violence in all its forms, as well as threats of violence and derogatory and racist remarks being thrown in the opposite direction. We condemn the shameful actions carried out by a few Arabs and Muslims around the world that have tarnished our image, and presented us as intolerant and close-minded bigots." (italics mine)

"Sorry, but I don't believe a word of it. When I see ALL of you rise to the streets and supress what you deem as a "few" radicals who have hijacked (no pun intended) your religion, I'll believe it. And I mean all three BILLION plus of you worldwide. Otherwise you are as responsible and as cowardly as the people you claim to distance yourself from. Another people learned this back in the 1930's. They silently stood by while madmen took over their country. Millions of innocents died back then because their people stood by and did nothing. Where are your leaders standing up and speaking out? Where are your clerics? Where are your millions of citizens taking to the streets and speaking out? Nowhere is the correct answer. Because Muslims are simply manipulating the world media to achieve your goals. Apologize my arse. When I see the above mentioned I'll take your apology seriously.

You Muslims started this war officially on 9-11. I suggest you rise up and deal with these people you deem radical and quickly. Otherwise be warned. You started this, but we sure as hell will."

"Nice to see moderate Muslims trying to be sensible. However, it's my feeling that moderate Muslims are becoming an ever smaller group. You guys better get that radical side of your religion under control and soon. The whole non Muslim world is slowly turning against Muslims because of the violence preached and perpetrated by Muslims."

"it's good to see that someone can put things in perspective and realize that some christian fanatics in a magazine no one in norway have heard of does not represent the view of all citizens in this country, and that some jokemaker in denmark tried to be funny(he did not succeed though, the jokes sucked) and didnt(at least i think he didn't) know that drawing the prophet was some kind of horrible thing to do, as Jesus have been in jokes "forever". Anyway, i think people should leave the judgement for this jokes up to their respective god to make judgement over, and not to take things in their own hand, and start violent behaviour, which really makes things a lot harder for muslims all over the world, and especially in europe.

hopefully the majority of muslims understand that this was a harmless joke( and i really think they do, to bad some rotten apples destroys for the whole bunch(that goes for christian fanatics as well))"