- Title: PAKISTAN: MUSLIM SHI'ITES PROTEST UNITED STATES SUPPORT OF ISRAEL
- Date: 18th May 2004
- Summary: (U7) KARACHI, PAKISTAN (MAY 16, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF DEMO, SECURITY IN FOREGROUND 0.17 2. SLV COFFINS READ, "DOWN WITH U.S, DOWN WITH ISRAEL"; SECURITY PERSONNEL ARRIVING 0.32 3. MV PLACARDS READ DOWN WITH U.S, DOWN WITH ISRAEL'; COFFINS READ DOWN WITH U.S, DOWN WITH ISRAEL'; PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS DOWN WITH U.S.'; PROTESTERS SHOUTING DOWN WITH ISRAEL'; PROTESTER SHOUTING NO TO ISRAEL' 1.04 4. SLV BANNER READS AMERICA YOU WILL FACE CURSE OF GOD'; A PLACARD READS LIAR BUSH, WE'LL RESIST YOU EVERYWHERE' 1.16 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MUBASHSHIR HASSAN, JOINT SECRETARY, IMAMIA STUDENTS ORGANISATION, SAYING "As Imam Khumaini said, 16th May is the day to be marked as "Down with U.S. Day" and "Down with Israel Day" because the Muslims were stabbed a dagger in the back, named as Israel that shed the blood of Muslims. The same series of atrocities continue in Iraq where in Karbala, Najaf, Samarra and everywhere in Iraq the bloodshed of Muslims is going on." 1.50 6. SLV COFFIN SET ON FIRE; MORE OF COFFINS BURNING, PROTESTERS SHOUTING ANTI-U.S. SLOGANS (3 SHOTS) 2.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Reuters ID: LVA5YEBXWLJKGA6B3EHSWJWII6W3
- Story Text: Muslim Shi'ites in Pakistan protest U.S. support of
Israel.
To mark the May 16 as "Down with the U.S. and Down
with the Israel Day", dozens of activists of Imamia
Students Organisation, a Shi'ite Muslim students faction,
took to the streets of Pakistan's southern port city of
Karachi on Sunday (May 16, 2004) and protested the Israeli
occupation of Palestine and U.S. support of Israel.
Holding banners and placards, the demonstrators chanted
anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans.
"As Imam Khumaini said, 16th May is the day to be
marked as "Down with U.S. Day" and "Down with Israel Day"
because the Muslims were stabbed a dagger in the back,
named as Israel that shed the blood of Muslims. The same
series of atrocities continue in Iraq where in Karbala,
Najaf, Samarra and everywhere in Iraq the bloodshed of
Muslims is going on," said Mubashshir Hassan, a protester.
The speakers at the demonstration denounced the killing
of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Rantissi by
Israel. They invited the attention of international
community to the Israeli atrocities in Palestine.
Speakers demanded the United Nations and the
international community to stop the expansionist policy of
Israel and get all the occupied Palestinian land vacated at
the earliest.
They also appealed to the United Nations and the
international community to do everything possible for the
rehabilitation of the oppressed and uprooted people of
Palestine.
The speakers at the demo also demanded the immediate
evacuation of coalition forces from Iraq, condemning the
U.S. aggression against Iraqi Muslims. The protesters also
burnt symbolic coffins of U.S. and Israel. They said it
was a time of mourning and anger for them on this day when
the foundation of the Jewish state was a catastrophe for
the Arabs in general and for the Palestinians in particular.
Most Arab states have rejected a U.S. plan for reforms
in the Middle East that does not require a solution for the
Israeli-Arab conflict. The plan, drafted under the title of the
Greater Middle East, is due to be announced at a summit of the
Group of Eight leaders in the United States in June. Arab leaders
are set to hold a summit in Tunis May 22-23, a summit
delayed by rifts over the scope and pace of political and
economic reform.
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