Protests erupt in Pakistan over US air strike
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Many Pakistanis took to the streets Saturday to demonstrate against the U.S. air strike of a village on the border of Afghanistan. The main demonstration took place in the city of Karachi, where protestors shouted "Death to American Aggression" and "Stop bombing innocent people", a BBC report claims. Riot police were deployed to keep order.
A rally also took place in the town of Samarbagh, where over 600 people came out to protest, according to the Aljazeera news network. Speaking at the rally, Aizaz-ul Mulk Afkari, a leader from the Hezb-ul Mujahidin group, is reported to have claimed that Washington was targeting Pakistan because of its nuclear weapons.
The previous day, around 8000 tribesmen are reported to have staged a rally in the town of Inayat Qala. The US has not yet commented on the attack.
Related news
- "U.S. airstrike targeting Ayman al-Zawahiri leaves 18 dead in Pakistani village" — Wikinews, January 14, 2006
Sources
- "Pakistan rally against US strike" — BBC News Online, January 15, 2006
- "'Zawahiri' strike sparks protest" — BBC News Online, January 15, 2006
- Jason Burke and Imtiaz Gul. "The drone, the CIA and a botched attempt to kill bin Laden's deputy" — The Observer, January 15, 2006
- "Pakistan protesters slam US airstrike" — Aljazeera, January 15, 2006
- "Pakistan Condemns 'Zawahiri' Strike" — Truthdig, January 14, 2006