Muslim groups rally for Al-Quds

Muslim groups rally for Al-Quds

JAKARTA (JP): At least 200 people from various Muslim groups
staged an anti-America and anti-Israel protest in the capital on
Friday, to show support for Palestinians in their struggle for
outright independence.

In addition to their condemnation of Israel, the protesters,
mostly students, also condemned the United Nations and the United
States for failing to develop a fair resolution to the volatile
crisis.

The protesters, from the Indonesian Muslim Solidarity for Al-
Quds, and Islamic Students Front, burnt a Stars and Stripes flag
while rallying in front of the U.S. embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka
Selatan, in Central Jakarta, prior to performing their Friday
prayers.

The noisy protest ended peacefully but resulted in bumper-to-
bumper traffic on some major streets in the office district.

Only several police officers were seen in the area.

Dressed in Muslim attire, the protesters, some of whom were
women, unfurled banners and yelled anti-America and anti-Israel
slogans.

After the Friday prayer, the protesters marched to the UN
building on the city's main thoroughfare, Jl. MH Thamrin, causing
more severe traffic congestion.

"We called on the public to stop using American products, like
cars, clothes and cigarettes, in a bid to fight against U.S. and
Israeli imperialism," the protesters' leader, Mujtahid Hashem,
said.

The protesters also urged the government of Indonesia to avoid
establishing any relations with Israel.

A protest regarding similar issues was also held by dozens of
people, from the Peoples Solidarity for Al-Quds Freedom, in front
of the U.S. consulate in the East Java capital of Surabaya.

The rally, held just few hours before the Friday prayer,
demanded the release of the Al-Quds, or Al-Aqsa mosque, from
Israel's authority.

No disturbances were reported to have occurred at the
rally.(dja/nur)