Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pak tribesmen condemn US air strike, burn Bush, Musharraf effigies

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 23, IRNA
Pakistan-Tribal protest
Thousands of tribesmen on Sunday staged a demonstration in the Pakistani tribal area of Bajur against last week's US missile attack that killed 18 persons, including women and children.

The people also went on strikes and shut their businesses in protest at the appeal of the pro-Taliban group Jamiat ulema-e-Islam.

The demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mulla Muhammad Omar.

The demonstration at Enayat Kaley, near the Damadola bombing site, was also attended by activists of other opposition parties.

Some of the demonstrators threw stones at video shops in the area.

The demonstrators burned effigies of US President Bush and Pakistani President General Musharraf.

A large contingent of paramilitary forces was deployed in the area to maintain peace.

The police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators and also arrested three persons for pelting shops with stones.

Addressing the rally, National Assembly member from Bajur Maulana Muhamamd Sadiq said Washington has challenged the Muslims by bombing the area, saying the US air strike was aimed at creating problems in Pakistan.

He said Osama and Mulla Omar are not leaders of the tribal area but the United States rained missiles on its civilian residents.

Tribal leaders Maulana Gul Dad Khan, Maulana Abdur Rashid and Maulan Burhanuddin demanded of President Musharraf to resign and give compensation to relatives of the victims.

Protests against the Bajur bombing continues in Pakistan with opposition leaders planning to travel to the area on Monday to condemn the incident and express solidarity with the affected families.

The government issued an order disallowing some politicians from entering Bajur last week and it is likely political leaders may not be allowed to enter the tribal region.

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