A mob attempted to break into a prison in northern Nigeria on Saturday and lynch 18 men awaiting sentencing on morals charges that state controlled NAN news agency reports. One prison official was injured as guards fended off the angry crowd.

Sentences for the 18 were to have been handed down last week by a Sharia court in the Moslem state of Bauchi. They were arrested wearing women's clothing at a hotel where police say they had gathered for the wedding "of two men". An attorney for the men said they were at the hotel for a "graduation party".

The 18 were convicted of sodomy earlier this month but last week the judge reduced that violating Islamic law by dressing in female garb when it could not be proved any sex had occurred. Sodomy carries a maximum sentence of death.

When the prosecutor said he would not seek the death penalty the judge said he would need time to consider an appropriate sentence. The 18 will be back in court September 13. Five of the men were able to make bail. The others remain in custody.

NAN reports that the mob was angry that the charge was reduced.

Whether the men are gay or transsexual has not been fully explained by authorities.

UPI reports:

[filth from the Anglican Bishop of Uyo, Rt. Rev. Isaac Orama]

UPI, by the way, is owned by Rev. Moon, a man who has called for the destruction of gays and lesbians himself. From a speech he gave in 2003:

[More filth from the Moonies]

I have begun work on a series of posts on Moon's various business interests, particularly here in MIchigan. They will show up over the next few weeks.