Kashmir protests Saddam hanging, Taj tourists hurt
Source: Reuters
SRINAGAR, India, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Shops and markets closed and streets were deserted in Indian Kashmir's main city and other towns in the troubled region on Friday in a second day of protests over the execution of Saddam Hussein, police said. Muslim protesters took to the streets in Srinagar, summer capital of the largely Sunni state, chanting "Down with Bush" and other slogans. "This is a barbaric incident," businessman Imtiyaz Ahmad said of the hanging of the former Iraqi president. "Americans have humiliated Sunni Muslims and we should strongly protest against it." Police said Friday's demonstrations were peaceful after at least nine people were hurt the previous day when officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters. The former Iraqi leader's execution also sparked sporadic protests in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where authorities said on Friday they were investigating an attack on tourists by groups of Muslims protesters the day before. The protesters pelted a tourist bus with stones in the Taj Mahal town of Agra, wounding some. The tourists were from India's southern state of Goa which has a sizeable Christian population. "The Agra police were trying to identify the culprits and suitable action will be taken against them," an official spokesman told Reuters in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh.
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