Thousands rally against U.S.

Thousands of people from various Muslim organizations attend an anti U.S.-rally at Bundaran Gladag in Surakarta, Central Java.

During the rally on Saturday, some of the protesters unfurled various anti-U.S. banners, while others bandied about an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush, which they eventually burned.

Meanwhile, in Surabaya, hundreds of people staged a noisy demonstration in front of the U.S. consulate in the city on Saturday, in protest of any U.S. aggression in Iraq as well as speculation, by certain countries, that Indonesia was harboring terrorists.

Some 20 students from the East Java National Student Forum arrived at the consulate general to denounce what they consider to be an imminent war in Iraq.

Later on, they were joined by hundreds of fellow demonstrators from the Indonesian Muslim Solidarity Front, who were angry that people from other countries had stated that some Muslim terrorists were hiding or operating in Indonesia.

The protesters found that they were unable to meet with any consulate officials due to the fact that the office was closed on weekends.

Seemingly undeterred, they delivered speeches and held up their anti-U.S. banners before marching to the governor's office. -- Antara