RAWALPINDI, March 23: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, has said the policies of General Pervez Musharraf have been spreading hatred for the army.

He was speaking at the Shabab-i-Milli's 'save the atom bomb caravan' which arrived here at Banni Chowk from Karachi on Tuesday. He criticized Gen Musharraf for what he said "supporting the US at the cost of his own people".

Mr Qazi said the foreign and domestic policies of President Musharraf had failed and demanded his resignation and appointment of a new army chief. After the Wana operation, the army has lost confidence of the nation, he said.

The JI chief said the military operation Wana was being monitored directly by the US ambassador in Afghanistan. He said after the dismemberment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, the US saw in Islam the only threat to its interests and so has focused attention on browbeating it. Those supporting America cannot be the friends of the Muslims, he added.

He announced that protest day would be observed on Friday to show indignation against military operation in Wana and condemned the martyrdom of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmad Yasin.