Day of tension in Pakistan

Shots were exchanged between protesters and police in the southern port city of Karachi on the first day of prayer since the air raids on Afghanistan began.Teargas was also used to disperse demonstrators.

Shots were exchanged between protesters and police in the southern port city of Karachi on the first day of prayer since the air raids on Afghanistan began.Teargas was also used to disperse demonstrators.

Hundreds of followers of radical Pakistani Islamic groups clashed with police, throwing stones and setting a restaurant on fire run by the American fast-food company KFC. One report said three police officers were among five people injured by a grenade and that tear gas was used in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

however, despite the violence, the protests were not as serious as many people had feared

Police and paramilitary forces patrolled the streets in Quetta and Peshawar, two cities home to most Afghan refugees in Pakistan and near the Afghanistan border.

Leaders of major Islamic political parties have called a nationwide strike to protest against US-led military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan - and Pakistan's supportive role in the American effort to eradicate terrorism.

¿ In Malaysia, the Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called for a halt in the air strikes on Afghanistan, saying the action would not help to combat terrorism. Outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, police turned water cannon on 3,000 protesters but said there had been no violent incidents.

¿ In Indonesia, about 1,000 protesters rallied outside the heavily-guarded US Embassy in Jakarta. Police scuffled with one group that set fire to an effigy of Uncle Sam and several US flags. The protest was far smaller than predicted by some Muslim activists, who said they anticipated tens of thousands to join.