April 9, 2003	Wednesday	Safar 6, 1424

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QUETTA, April 8: A complete strike was observed in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan and a big anti-war rally was staged to condemn US-led invasion in Iraq, here on Tuesday.

The business community and traders positively responded to the strike call given by central traders’ organization to express solidarity with innocent people of Iraq who were facing the heaviest US-led bombardment and missile attacks.

All business and shopping centres remained closed throughout the day. However, hotels, medical stores, restaurants and bakeries remained opened as traders organization allowed them to continue their business.

The traders staged a big anti-war rally in the city. The participants of the rally marched on the main roads and streets carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-war and anti-US slogans. They also shouted slogans against US President Gorge W. Bush and his war ally British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Protesting traders later gathered at Mezeen Chowk where, the president of Anjuman-i-Tajran Abdul Rahim Kakar, General Secretary Ibrahim Kasi and others addressed them.

They strongly condemned the United States and its allies for attacking Iraq and said it was not an attack on Iraq but on the whole humanity as the entire world was strongly opposed to the war.

The traders later set an effigy of US President Bush on fire and also burnt the Stars and Stripes.

The government made strict security measures to avert any untoward incident during the strike. No such incident was reported from any part of the city.

Reports coming from other city and towns of Balochistan say that traders kept their shutters down in response to the strike call and all shops and business centres remained closed.