Western Europe's biggest mosque opens

Western Europe's biggest mosque opened on Friday in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, five years behind schedule with organisers blaming obstruction from far-right politicians for the delay.

The mosque, which is built with two 50-metre (164-feet) high minarets, can  accommodate 3,000 worshippers and will be a centre for charity, mutual understanding and forgiveness, said its chief adminstrator Abdelrazak Boutaher.

Construction began in 2003 and was slated to last for two years, but organisers said far-right opposition had delayed the project.

The mosque is funded by the Al Maktoum Foundation, a charitable organisation.