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)