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Protests Erupt in Pakistan After Troops Attack Religious School
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=670118&l=1009&ctl=14A3E01:A6F02AD83191E1603499E5B45B96B7369574F7DCC14957C0 Islamic politicians
say airstrike on madrassa in Chingai, near Afghan border, killed
innocent women and children In Pakistan, thousands of angry tribesmen
and Islamic party activists have protested against Monday's military
strike on an Islamic school near the Afghan border that authorities
say killed at least 80 suspected militants.

The biggest rally was held in the Bajaur tribal region bordering
Afghanistan, where Pakistani gunship helicopters carried out the
attack against a religious school.







Rubble of a house in Chingai village after Pakistan military
airstrike, Oct. 30, 2006 

Witnesses say that more than 10,000 armed tribesmen gathered in the
main town of Khar Tuesday to denounce the military action, alleging
those killed were innocent students and teachers.

Protesters chanted "Down with America" and "Down with Musharraf",
referring to Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf.

A female protester, Rakhshanda Naz, in the provincial capital,
Peshawar, believes the Pakistani government carries out these attacks
under pressure from the United States.

"Most of the time they hit civilians and innocent civilians to just
show their efficiency to prove we are good partners in the war against
terror," she said.

Pakistani authorities have dismissed allegations that Monday's
military strike against the Islamic school killed innocent people.
They say the compound was concealing a training camp for terrorists.

Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad Tuesday, President Musharraf again
strongly defended the action.







President Pervez Musharraf "Anyone who is saying that these people
were innocent Taleban is telling lies," General Musharraf said. "We
were watching them since the last six or seven days. We knew exactly
who they are, what they are doing. They were all militants using
weapons doing military training within the compound."

Pakistani and U.S officials have denied as baseless reports that the
attack was carried out by U.S. forces.

The scene of Monday's air strike lies across the border from
Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar, where coalition troops are
hunting al-Qaida and Taleban militants.

A large number of these militants are believed to have taken shelter
in the Pakistani tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

Military officials in Pakistan, a close U.S. ally in the war against
terrorism, reject allegations that these militant forces are moving
back and forth to carry out attacks inside Afghanistan.

Protest rallies were also held in several towns of Pakistan's
northwestern frontier province, which borders Afghanistan and is
governed by an alliance of major Islamic parties

 


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