Thousands of people rallied in major cities across Pakistan yesterday to protest possible U.S. attack on Iraq in response to a call by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Islamic alliance.

Around 4,000 participated in the demonstration in Peshawar, capital of MMA-ruled North-West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, with low turnout in other cities. The overall response apparently fell short of expectations as the sponsors had forecast massive rallies.

The rallies also denounced U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan to hunt Al Qaida and Taliban, FBI activities in Pakistan and "violation" of national sovereignty.

"The U.S. has started a war against Muslims," Maulana Samiul Haq, one of the main MMA leaders, told the protesters in the federal capital.
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"This is a war between the friends of Allah and the friends of satan."

"The American attack on Iraq will be an attack on the Islamic world," said another MMA Fazlur Rahman.

"If today we cannot stop America from attacking Iraq, then tomorrow they will attack Iran, and then it could be Pakistan," Fazlur Rehman told the rally in Peshawar.

» GN Online: MMA leaders warn U.S. against attacking Iraq