MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 23: Hundreds of people took to the streets here on Saturday to protest against the desecration of holy places in Iraq by the US forces.

Led by prominent religious leader, Mufti Kifayat Hussain Naqvi, AJK assembly's former deputy speaker and People's Party leader Syed Shaukat Hussain Naqvi and Jamaat-i-Islami leader Dr Mohammad Mushtaq, the demonstrators marched to the office of the United Nations Military Observers.

Condemning the killings of innocent civilians and sacrilege of holy sites by the US-led forces, they torched the US flag while chanting slogans against the occupation forces in Iraq.

The demonstration was organized jointly by Anjuman-i-Jafria Azad Kashmir and Imamia Students Organization. Speaking on the occasion, Mufti Kifayat Hussain Naqvi called upon the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the international community to take cognizance of the bloodshed and other human rights abuses at the hands of occupation army in Iraq.

The sacrilege of the shrine of Hazrat Ali and other holy places by the US forces was challenge for the entire Ummah, he said.