Thousands Protest Airstrike in Pakistan

[cal04]

Thousands of angry tribesmen and Islamists protested Friday across Pakistan against an airstrike that killed 80 people at a religious school near the Afghan border this week, as state TV aired video footage purportedly showing militants in training there before the attack.

More than 5,000 people rallied in the Bajur tribal region, scene of Monday's airstrike that destroyed a madrassa, or Islamic seminary, run by a Pakistani cleric with alleged ties to al-Qaida No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri. They demanded government compensation for relatives of the dead.

Religious hardliners gathered in other key cities across Pakistan, railing against America and key anti-terror ally, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Bajur residents and Islamic parties claim the strike was launched by U.S. drones and that the victims were either religious students or teachers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6190827,00.html

[seriousstan]

1. Could they all please protest in one tight circle?

[acmavm]

2. One of these days Mushy is going to have to pack his bags and slip

out of the palace in the middle of the night after one of these airstrikes. They're making the natives restless and Mushy doesn't have that strong a hold on his position anymore. It's probably a slow week if there isn't at least one coup attempt I would think.

Look what happened the last time he was out of the country.