WORLD IN BRIEF : EGYPT : Muslims Reject U.N. Population Draft

The world’s most prestigious institution of Islamic learning has spoken out against a U.N. document on population and development, accusing it of condoning extramarital sex and easy abortion. The Azhar, the mosque university set up in Cairo in the 10th Century, says the document also undermines parental authority and might encourage prostitution. In a statement, its Islamic Studies Center said parts of the document needed changing to conform with Islamic principles and recommended Muslims record their reservations on them at a U.N. conference in Cairo next month. The document, the program of action for the International Conference on Population and Development, covers a wide range of subjects controversial in the Islamic world, such as abortion, women’s rights and family structures.