Cartoon Carry On Up the Khyber
Here's my readers' digest version of the latest cartoon protest violence in Pakistan:
Excerpted from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5618374,00.html
Protesters Ravage Two Pakistani Cities
Tuesday February 14, 2006 5:01 PM
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - Thousands rampaged Tuesday through two Pakistani cities to protest cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, burning buildings and breaking windows at western businesses such as KFC, McDonald's, Holiday Inn and Pizza Hut.
In southern Iraq, Basra's provincial council demanded the withdrawal of Denmark's 530-member military contingent from the region unless the Danish government apologizes for the cartoons - which it refuses to do, saying it has no influence over the media.
Demonstrations around Asia and the Middle East have subsided in recent days, including in Afghanistan where 11 people died in riots last week. But the protests have gathered momentum in Pakistan this week and taken a violent turn.
Television footage showed at least one rioter firing a hand gun. Security forces fired live rounds into the air, but failed to stop protesters from setting fire to the Punjab provincial assembly and burning down four buildings housing a hotel, two banks, a KFC restaurant and the office of Norwegian cell phone company, Telenor. Two cinemas in the city - the center of Pakistan's ailing movie industry - were also torched.
Witnesses said rioters also damaged over 200 cars, dozens of shops - many locally owned - and a large portrait of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Windows were broken at a Holiday Inn hotel, and Pizza Hut and McDonald's restaurants.
A security guard shot and killed two protesters trying to force their way into a bank, said Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao. At least 11 other people were injured in the riots.
In Islamabad, which lies about 180 miles northwest of Lahore, police appeared lax in trying to control protesters.
A dozen policemen just looked on as between 1,000 and 1,500 people, mostly students, rushed through the main entrance of the diplomatic enclave, smashing street signs and the window of a bank.
U.S. and British embassy staffers were confined to their compounds until police reinforcements with batons and shields used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who shouted ``Death to America'' and other slogans. About 50 protesters were detained.
More protests are planned in Pakistan this week.
Excerpted from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5618374,00.html
Protesters Ravage Two Pakistani Cities
Tuesday February 14, 2006 5:01 PM
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - Thousands rampaged Tuesday through two Pakistani cities to protest cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, burning buildings and breaking windows at western businesses such as KFC, McDonald's, Holiday Inn and Pizza Hut.
In southern Iraq, Basra's provincial council demanded the withdrawal of Denmark's 530-member military contingent from the region unless the Danish government apologizes for the cartoons - which it refuses to do, saying it has no influence over the media.
Demonstrations around Asia and the Middle East have subsided in recent days, including in Afghanistan where 11 people died in riots last week. But the protests have gathered momentum in Pakistan this week and taken a violent turn.
Television footage showed at least one rioter firing a hand gun. Security forces fired live rounds into the air, but failed to stop protesters from setting fire to the Punjab provincial assembly and burning down four buildings housing a hotel, two banks, a KFC restaurant and the office of Norwegian cell phone company, Telenor. Two cinemas in the city - the center of Pakistan's ailing movie industry - were also torched.
Witnesses said rioters also damaged over 200 cars, dozens of shops - many locally owned - and a large portrait of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Windows were broken at a Holiday Inn hotel, and Pizza Hut and McDonald's restaurants.
A security guard shot and killed two protesters trying to force their way into a bank, said Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao. At least 11 other people were injured in the riots.
In Islamabad, which lies about 180 miles northwest of Lahore, police appeared lax in trying to control protesters.
A dozen policemen just looked on as between 1,000 and 1,500 people, mostly students, rushed through the main entrance of the diplomatic enclave, smashing street signs and the window of a bank.
U.S. and British embassy staffers were confined to their compounds until police reinforcements with batons and shields used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who shouted ``Death to America'' and other slogans. About 50 protesters were detained.
More protests are planned in Pakistan this week.