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January 17, 2006
Pakistan: Muslims Threaten More Anti-US Protests
On Friday 13, an airstrike on the village of Damadola in the Bajaur Agency of Pakistan, 4 miles from the Afghan border, hit three houses and killed 18 people, including women and children. The strike was aimed at a location where Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second in command of al-Qaeda was expected to be present. Pakistani intelligence sources yesterday confirmed the Islamist terror organiser was due to have arrived at a house in the village, as he had been invited to a meal. He did not turn up, and sent his envoys instead.
Today, Associated Press via Houston Chronicle notes that protests which took place at the weekend in several cities will be repeated, at the urging of Muslim leaders.
Shahid Shamsi, spokesperson of an alliance of Islamic groups, said "There will be more...bigger protests. Pakistani civilians, including children, were killed."
So far the US has not officially acknowledged responsibility for the airstrike, Condoleeza Rice has said that al-Qaeda should not be treated "lightly". The Taipei Times reports that Republican Senator John McCain and other US lawmakers defended it on Sunday. "We apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again," McCain said.
On Sunday, a senior Pakistani official confirmed that "foreigners" were reported in the area around Damadola.
Though partners in the "war on terror", Pakistan does not permit the US to make raids across its border with Afghanistan, where 20,000 US military personnel are stationed. The Pakistan government has condemned the strike, but it does not prevent Shaukat Aziz, the prime minister, will cancel his planned trip to the US today. The aim is to build and bolster business links between the two nations.
The survivors from Damadola have said that no militants were at the blast site, but some press reports have quoted unnamed Pakistani officials, claiming 11 extremists were among those killed.
UPDATE: 6.30 GMT: Brocktown News states that at least four foreign terrorists were killed in Friday's airstrike: "A statement by the administration of Bajur, the Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan , also said that 10 to 12 foreign extremists had been invited to dinner at the village hit in Friday's attack".
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 17, 2006 7:48 AM
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