With just less than ten days to the climax of the month of Ramadan, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is distributing 2,605 bags of rice to various Mosques in Monrovia and its environs.

During a distribution exercise at the United Dawal Urma Mosque on 17th Street, Sinkor, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf told the media that the rice distribution was President Sirleaf's goodwill gesture to the Muslim Community.

"In fulfillment of the President's goodwill gesture to the Muslim Community during this Holy Month of Ramadan, she is distributing rice totaling 2,605 bags to the different mosques in Monrovia and its environs," Minister Sirleaf said.

He recalled that last year during the Ramadan period, President Sirleaf similarly extended such exercise to Lofa, Nimba, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties.

"And today, we are here at the United Dawal Urma Mosque on 17th Street, Sinkor to start this process. It's the president's own way of saying to the Muslims that she is with them during this Holy Month of Ramadan, so that it can be used for fasting," said Mr. Sirleaf.

Following the distribution of 20 bags to the United Dawal Mosque on 17th Street, Sinkor yesterday, Mr. Sirleaf continued the distribution exercise to other mosques in and around the capital.

The Deputy Internal Affairs Minister said the Muslims were very appreciative of the rice from the president, saying "I being a Muslim too, the last ten days of the Holy Month of Ramadan are very crucial to Muslims." United Dawal Urma Mosque Imam Mustapha Balde expressed thanks and appreciation first to God, and to the Liberian leader and Government of Liberia.

"On behalf of the people in this Mosque, I want first to thank God and the president, the Government of this Republic, for identifying with the Muslims in this month of Ramadan."

"We hope and pray for her and the government," said Imam Balde, stressing that in the Holy Month of Ramadan, Muslims normally come together to pray, especially in this last ten days of Ramadan, during which he said Muslims come together at the last part of the night.