Culture,  Politics,  Religion

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Tens of Thousands Take to the Street in Pakistan – 3 Killed

Pakistani police officers remove the burning debris from outside U.S. fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant, which was damaged by angry mob during a protest against the publication of cartoons depicting Islamic prophet Muhammad, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006 in Peshawar, Pakistan. Protesters burned the KFC restaurant and movie theaters in Pakistan’s biggest protest yet against the Prophet Muhammad cartoons, the third straight day of violent demonstrations in the Islamic nation. Three died and dozens were injured in protests in two cities Wednesday, police and witnesses said.

ASSocaited Press: Cartoon Protests in Pakistan Leave 3 Dead

Gunfire and rioting erupted Wednesday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets in several Pakistani cities during the country’s third consecutive day of violent protests over the Prophet Muhammad cartoons. Three people were killed, including an 8-year-old boy.

More than 70,000 people flooded the streets of the northwestern city of Peshawar, said Saeed Wazir, a senior police officer. The massive crowd went on a rampage, torching businesses and fighting police, who struck back with tear gas and batons. A bus terminal operated by
South Korea’s Sammi Corp. was torched, police said.

Protesters burned a KFC restaurant, three movie theaters and the offices of the main mobile phone company in the country. A Norwegian mobile phone company’s offices were also ransacked. Gunfire was heard near the burning KFC, as police tried to clear people from a main street, witnesses said.

An 8-year-old boy died after being struck in the face by a bullet fired by a protester, police officer Shahid Khan said. A 25-year-old man was killed by an electric cable that was snapped by gunfire, said the man’s cousin, Jehangir Khan.

At least 45 people were being treated for injuries in Peshawar’s two state-run hospitals, Khan and witnesses said.

Pakistani protesters burn a Danish flag during a protest in Peshawar February 14, 2006.

Of course, this is an oirganized attempt by Al Qaeda and other radical Islamofascists to undermine the pro-Western government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

But, the government needs to immediately quell the violence and NOT let it linger and fester like Jacques Chirac did earlier in the French riots.

Hundreds of Afghan refugees joined the protest in Peshawar, the capital of the conservative North West Frontier Province. Many chanted “Death to Denmark!” and “Hang those who drew the insulting cartoons!” Others burned Danish flags and effigies of the Danish prime minister.

Rioting also broke out Wednesday in the northwestern town of Tank, near the South Waziristan tribal region where security officials have said al-Qaida-linked foreign fighters are hiding. Protesters set fire to 30 shops selling CDs, DVDs, and videos, said Attiq Wazir, a local police official. Suspected Islamic militants had warned music shops to close, witnesses said.

One policeman was injured when a protester opened fire to resist arrest.

In the eastern city of Lahore, fighting flared up for the second straight day. A 30-year-old man was shot dead in a clash with police as about 1,500 students staged a rally outside a university, hospital and police officials said.

Will President Musharraf have the ability to calm the Mullah inspired/incited masses?

Stay tuned…….

Previous:

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Editor of University of Illinois Student Newspaper Suspended for Printing Cartoons Depicting the Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Thousands of Protesters Rampage in 2 Pakistani Cities

Cox & Forkum on the Muhammad Caricatures: Overboard


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Pakistan Police Gas Students Protesting Caricatures

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Condolezza Rice – Muslim Outrage Could “Spin Out of Control”

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Denmark Withdraws Diplomats from Iran and Indonesia

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Thousands Protest Against Prophet Drawings

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Internet T-Shirt Vendor, MetroSpy, Profits from Muhammad Caricature Conflict

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Muslim Leaders Urge Calm


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Are Extemists Fanning Caricature Outrage?

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Egypt and the Muhammad Caricatures


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Condoleezza Rice – Iran and Syria Stoking Anger – The Response


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Condoleezza Rice – Iran and Syria Stoking Anger

Muhammad Caricature Watch: President Bush and King Abdullah of Jordan Urge an End to Violence over Muhammad Caricatures

Cox & Forkum: Western Dhimmitude

Muhammad Caricature Watch: French Weekly Charlie Hebdo Reprints Muhammad Caricatures

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Muslim Threatened Norwegian Pressman Continues to Defend the Right to Publish Offensive Material


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Demonstrators Attack Norwegian Embassy in Tehran, Iran

Muhammad Caricature Watch: 4 Killed In Afghanistan in Caricature Bloodshed

Muhammad Caricature Watch: A Right to Blasphemy


Muhammad Caricature Watch: New Protests Erupt Around the World


Muhammad Caricature Watch: The False Cartoons and Danish Imams


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Angry Demonstrators Set Danish Consulate in Beirut Ablaze

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Syrian Protesters Set Danish Embassy Ablaze Over Cartoon


Muhammad Caricature Watch: Protests Over Muhammad Drawings Intensify

Muhammad Caricature Watch: Anger Over Cartoons of Muhammad Escalates

Day by Day by Chris Muir on CNN

Day by Day by Chris Muir on Muhammad Caricatures

Cox & Forkum: Publication of Caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad by a Danish Newspaper


Technorati Tags: , , ,