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More cartoon protests as embassy reopens
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-06 15:11
Tens of thousands of people massed in Pakistan and Turkey
on Sunday to protest cartoons of Islam's Prophet, Muhammad, that have fired
anger throughout the Muslim world. Denmark reopened its embassy in Indonesia on
Monday, more than three weeks after hard-line Muslims stormed the building and
it closed amid widespread protests over the caricatures, which were first
published in a Danish newspaper.
Supporters of Islamic coalition Mutahida
Majlis-e-Amal, or United Action Forum hold an effigy of the Danish Prime
Minister during a rally to condemn the publication of cartoons depicting
Islamic Prophet Muhammad printed by some Western newspapers, Sunday, March
5, 2006 in Karachi, Pakistan. About 50,000 people, many chanting 'Hang
those who insulted the prophet,' rallied in a southern Pakistani city to
protest Prophet Muhammad cartoons. [AP] | About 50,000 people, many chanting "Hang those who insulted the prophet,"
rallied Sunday in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi. The protesters burned
the Danish flag, hit an effigy of President Bush with a stick and chanted "Death
to America" and "Death to Musharraf." Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf
welcomed Bush to Pakistan on Saturday.
Hundreds of policemen in riot gear lined the central Karachi road where the
rally was held. There was no violence.
In Turkey, some 20,000 protesters chanting anti-Danish slogans gathered in
the eastern city of Erzurum, reports said.
Men and women stood separated by a barrier in the peaceful rally organized by
the pro-Islamic Felicity Party, NTV television reported.
The protesters chanted slogans denouncing Denmark and cried "Allah is Great,"
the Anatolia news agency said.
In Pakistan, the protest was organized by a coalition of radical Islamic
groups opposed to Musharraf and the United States. The alliance, Mutahida
Majlis-e-Amal, or United Action Forum, has organized a series of demonstrations
against the cartoons, which were reprinted in several other European countries.
One of the 12 drawings shows Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit
fuse. Islamic tradition bars depiction of Muhammad, favorable or otherwise, to
prevent idolatry.
Denmark temporarily closed embassies in Indonesia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria,
and Iran in response to the often violent protests. Denmark's ambassador to
Indonesia, Niels Erik Andersen, said Monday that no extra security precautions
had been put in place for the reopening.
French President Jacques Chirac told the Saudi parliament Sunday that
dialogue was necessary to avoid cultural misunderstandings.
The first foreign leader to speak before the non-elected parliament, Chirac
called for "cultivating all opportunities for dialogue to avoid
misunderstandings," and for "redoubling attention and efforts to preserve
peace."
Some cartoon protests in Pakistan have turned deadly and at least five people
died in two Pakistani cities in rioting last month.
Radical Islamists in Pakistan oppose Musharraf for his cooperation with the
United States in the war on terrorism.
"Both Musharraf and his master Bush are killers of Muslims," said Maulana
Fazlur Rahman, parliamentary opposition leader and a senior figure in the
religious alliance.
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