Massive anti-US protests rock Kashmir, 25 wounded in clashes

Srinagar, Jan 4 (UNI) At least 25 people, including two women and a senior CRPF officer, were wounded in clashes between protestors and security forces as violent demonstrations over the execution of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein continued in Kashmir today.

For the first time in the recent past, security forces used rubber bullets to disperse the violent mob.

Shouting anti-US and anti-Bush slogans, a large number of protestors took to streets at Nowhatta and Gojwara near the grand Jamia Mosque in the downtown city this morning. The demonstrators also burnt US President George W Bush in effigy.

As protestors tried to break the cordon and proceed toward the main city, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police personnel deployed there stopped them.

However, when the mourners refused to disperse, security personnel resorted to baton charge and also fired teargas shells.

And as the protests turned violent, security forces fired in the air and also used rubber bullets to disperse the mourners.

At least 25 people, including two women and a CRPF Assistant Commandant, were wounded in the pitched battle between protestors and security forces.

Shops and other business establishments in the area remained closed and traffic was also suspended for few hours.

Outraged at Saddam's hanging, a group of mourners also took to streets at Maisuma near here this morning. Shouting anti-US and anti-Bush slogans, protestors pelted stones on police and vehicles.

Shops in the area remained closed due to stone-pelting.

Reports of protests were received from some other parts of the Kashmir valley as well.

The 69-year-old fallen strongman of Iraq had been executed by hanging at dawn on December 30.

Earlier on November five, a US-sponsored court in Baghdad had sentenced the deposed Iraqi president to death by hanging after holding his guilty of crimes against humanity for his role in the killing of 148 Shi'ite villagers following an assassination attempt on his life in 1982.

UNI