Thousands Participate in Cape Town Anti-Israeli March.

By VOA News

Thousands of African Muslims have marched in Cape Town, South Africa, to protest what they call Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

Police estimate that at least 15,000 Muslim protesters took to the streets chanting anti-Israeli slogans. They marched to the gates

The march coincided with a torch-lighting ceremony in Pretoria designed to symbolize the country's opposition to racism. Tuesday had been designated Torches of Tolerance Day in South Africa in which citizens were encouraged to light torches or turn on car headlights to show their commitment to racial tolerance.

Both events come 10 days before the beginning of the U.N. World Conference against Racism, to be held in Durban. The African Muslim demonstrators support Arab efforts to add language to the racism conference official statement equating Zionism with racism.