KANO, Nigeria (REUTERS) - Hundreds of youths ran through the streets of the northern Nigerian city of Kano shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) on Friday to protest against a Muslim cleric accused of blasphemy, and set fire to a syariah court, police said.

The young men took to the streets around 10am (5pm Singapore time) to demonstrate against Abdul Nyass, from the Tijani Muslim sect, who was due to appear in the Islamic court accused of comparing the leader of his group to the Prophet Muhammad.

Part of the court was set on fire after a bonfire started by protesters caught hold of the building.

"Hundreds of youths were involved. There was no damage, no injuries and nobody died as a result of this," Kano police spokesman Magaji Majiya said by telephone, noting that the protest lasted just over an hour.

Members of different sects usually live peacefully side by side in predominantly Muslim Kano, the biggest city in the north of Africa's most populous country.