( CNN ) -- In a show of force , Islamist militants gathered in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Wednesday to protest an American pastor 's now-scrubbed plans to burn the Quran . Chanting `` God is great '' and `` Down with America , '' crowds assembled at a stadium for a rally organized by Al-Shabaab militants . Florida pastor Terry Jones cancelled his plans to burn the Quran last weekend , but his intentions have sparked protests across the globe , including Afghanistan and in Kashmir , where anti-India unrest was fueled this week by reports of the planned desecration of Islam 's holy book . Al-Shabaab has been accused by human rights groups of gross violations . The al Qaeda-inspired group has threatened African neighbors and Israel and recently claimed responsibility for bombing two locations in Uganda where fans were watching the final match of soccer 's World Cup , killing at least 76 people . It also intensified its attacks in Somalia during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan , with more than 200 civilians killed in battles between the militants and government troops . Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991 , when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and sparked brutal clan infighting . A transitional government has struggled to establish authority , challenged by Islamist groups like Al-Shabaab that have seized control of parts of Mogadishu and much of the south .
They gathered in mosques to protest a local pastor 's abandoned plans to burn Qurans . Al - Qaeda has been accused of human rights violations .