March 22, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 18, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 21: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Friday warned the Americans and personnel of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Pakistan to immediately quit the country.

Speaking at a demonstration here after Jumma prayers at Lal Masjid, an MMA leader, Ghafoor Haideri, said: “It is better for the Americans to leave the country as soon as possible.”

He said the military attacks of US-led forces on Iraq had put global peace in danger and the world body seemed to be ineffective and helpless before the aggression of a superpower.

The demonstration was staged in connection with a country- wide strike call given by the central leaders of MMA to protest against the US attacks on Iraq and express solidarity with the Iraqi people.

The members of National Assembly, Mian Aslam and Makhdoom Anwar Alam, local leaders and a large number of MMA workers participated in the demonstration.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the US policies.

Maulana Haideri said it had been proved that the Untied States had never honoured international rules and law.

Expressing deep sorrow over the silence of Muslim world on the issue, he said the US could be stopped from invading Iraq if it had been jointly warned by the Muslim world.

He called upon the Muslim countries to forge unity in their ranks and evolve a joint strategy for their security.

“Otherwise, they would be targeted one by one in the same manner,” he said.

The MMA, he said, would observe a ‘million march’ on March 23 in Lahore against the US attack on Iraq and to express solidarity with the Iraqi brethren.

Speaking on the occasion, Mian Aslam said the US had rejected resolutions of European Union, NAM Summit, OIC Summit and the UN Security Council by attacking Iraq.

He urged the UN and other world organizations to immediately intervene in the matter to stop war.