Former rock star demands death for infidels

Former rock star demands death for infidels

JP/Arief Suhardiman

Muslim women join an anti-war rally at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, from where around 3,000 protesters marched to the U.S. embassy on Sunday to condemn a possible U.S.-led military strike on Iraq.

Former rock star Harry Mukti led the protesters gathered outside the traffic circle outside the British embassy, hoisting signs stating their opposition to U.S. and British plans to invade Iraq, which they accuse of hiding weapons of mass destruction.

"We are no fans of Saddam Hussein but we are defending the people of Iraq," said Harry Mukti, a rock star turned preacher.

"Destroy America, destroy Britain, destroy the infidels. They sell weapons to Muslim countries so that the peoples of those countries turn against each other," he said over cries of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest).

Many of the protesters hailed from the Hizbut Tahrir (Party of Liberation) group. Group spokesman Muhammad Rachman said there was also little support for Saddam's secular regime.

"The U.S. and British main target is not Saddam Hussein but to control Muslim countries and their resources," Rachman told AFP, noting there was still little proof Saddam was developing weapons of mass destruction.

Hizbut Tahrir sponsored rallies last week at the embassies of a number of Middle Eastern countries hoping to urge Arab nations not to support war against Baghdad.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has said it considers any unilateral action against Iraq unacceptable though it supports the presence of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. -- AFP