Pakistan slams Israeli raid on Lebanon

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly denounced the Israeli attack Sunday on the southern Lebanese town of Qana, as thousands of Muslims protesting the killing of more than 50 civilians torched Israeli and US flags.              

"Pakistani government and people strongly condemn this sad incident, which is clearly unwarranted aggression," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters after a telephone call to his Lebanese counterpart, Fuad Siniora.       

He also appealed to the world community to come forward and help find "an immediate and peaceful settlement" of the conflict.              

Aziz said he assured Siniora of "Pakistan's full support to the people of Lebanon in this critical hour."        

The Israeli air strike on Sunday killed 51 people, including 25 children, the deadliest strike since Israel launched its offensive against Lebanon on July 12. The raid triggered protest rallies in Pakistan. Despite heavy rain, around 3,000 people at a rally in the port city of Karachi condemned the attack and vowed to support the Lebanese people.      

Protesters carrying banners against the Israeli attack called for an immediate end to "Israeli aggression" in Lebanon.          

The rally was convened by Muttahida Majli-e-Amal, an alliance of six Islamic parties, whose leaders called on the Muslim world to extend military help to Lebanon, witnesses said.             

The minority Shiite Muslim community also held a separate rally in Karachi attended by more than 1,000 people, including women and children.       

"We are ready to offer every sacrifice for our Lebanese brothers," a Shiite leader Haider Abbas told the gathering as slogan-chanting protesters burnt US and Israeli flags.      

"We will continue to support the Palestinian people until they get their rights," he added.