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01/17/2006:

"Pakistanis vent fury over US attack"

Thousands of angry protesters took to the streets across Pakistan yesterday to condemn an American air strike aimed at al-Qaida's deputy leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, that left at least 18 people dead.

Up to 10,000 people reportedly protested at rallies in the largest city, Karachi. Many chanted: "Death to America!" Demonstrators demanded the resignation of Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf. Smaller protests were staged in other towns and cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.

The protests across Pakistan put further pressure on General Musharraf, whose close relationship with the United States has made him unpopular at home.
"America raised the bogey of Zawahiri to provide justification for this attack," said Meraj-ul-Huda, a local leader of Pakistan's main Islamic alliance, Mattahida Majlis-e-Amal, who was attending the demonstration in Karachi.

Another member of the alliance, Liaqat Baloch, told protesters in Lahore that Gen Musharraf should stand down. "It is a threat to our sovereignty and shame for Musharraf's government that it failed to protect the country and the lives of its people," he said.
guardian.co.uk