Cologne, Germany  - One of Germany's main Islamic groups voiced relief Friday after winning planning clearance to build a controversial new mosque expected become a landmark in the western city of Cologne.

Right-of-centre German groups had campaigned against the mosque, which will have a dome reaching 37 metres high and two 55-metre minarets. They charged that it would bring a "foreign" touch to a city skyline dominated by Cologne's 11th-century Catholic cathedral.

Ditib, a foundation funded by Ankara to build mosques for Turkish- speaking Moslems, said Friday it would build the mosque as a "symbol of co-existence in peace and trust and without fear" and open it as a place of communication with non-Muslims.

"We are building this for all the people of Cologne, not just Muslims," said Ditib in a statement. Its head office is in Cologne.

The mosque will go up in the city's multi-ethnic Ehrenfeld district, several kilometres from the cathedral. Cologne's city council approved the building plans Thursday evening, with centre and left parties joining mayor Fritz Schramma to vote in favour.

City Christian Democrats voted against the plan, calling the design "too imposing."

Right-wing extremists have scheduled a demonstration against the mosque plans on September 19. City police forecast that 40,000 rightists from all over Europe will attend the anti-immigration rally.

An estimated 3.3 million people of Muslim background live in Germany, 1.8 million of them Turkish citizens. (dpa)