Massive anti-US, pro-Saddam protests erupt in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 5 (UNI) Massive protests erupted in several parts of the Kashmir valley soon after Friday prayers this afternoon over the execution of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

The protests refuse to subside with angry demonstrators taking to streets in many parts of Kashmir almost every day since the hanging.

Outraged at the hanging, protestors took out a procession from Gow Kadal here soon after Friday prayers and marched to Maisuma, Lal Chowk, Regal Chowk, Exchange Road before culminating at Badshah Chowk with the burning of US President George W Bush in effigy.

They also shouted anti-US, anti-Bush and pro-Saddam slogans.

''Down with America...Down with Bush...Saddam Hussein is a martyr,'' shouted the protestors as they marched ahead.

Reports of demonstrations were received from various parts of the city, particularly downtown areas, and several places in almost all district headquarters, major towns and many villages in the Valley.

Yesterday, at least 25 people, including two women and a senior CRPF officer, were wounded in clashes between protestors and security forces in the downtown city.

It was for the first time in the recent past that security forces used rubber bullets to disperse the violent mob. They also resorted to baton charge and fired teargas shells to control angry mourners.

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 being found 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