QUETTA, March 31: Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and traders community on Sunday staged protest rallies to condemn the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Hundreds of BNP activists took to roads carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-US and anti-war slogans.

The protestors chanted slogans against US President Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and other American allies, and in favour of Iraq and President Saddam Hussein.

The demonstrators later gathered in front of the press club where party leaders, including BNP-Mengal secretary general Habib Jalib Baloch and a senior leader Abdul Wali Kakar, spoke to the participants.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Baloch condemned the US-led war on Iraq saying that it was not only an invasion of Iraq but also an attack on humanity. “US-led attack on Iraq is an eye-opener for the world and it should evolve a joint strategy to block the American aggression,” he said.

The BNP leader said that despite heavy bombardment on cities and towns the people of Iraq and its forces were defending their motherland with immense courage.

Criticizing the role of Pakistan government, he said that indirectly it was supporting the US aggression by extending facilities of airbases to Washington. He claimed that soon the US would use the airbases in Pakistan against Iraq.

Mr Baloch also criticized the MMA leadership and said that it failed to force the government for withdraw the airbase facilities to the United States.

Later the demonstrators burnt the effigy of President Bush and the Stars and Stripes.

The traders community also took out a protest procession in the city.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards and had written the name of US President Bush on a donkey.

They also burnt the Stars and Stripes and the effigy of President Bush.

PROTESTS: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, a component of the Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA), and the Federation of Non-governmental Organizations (FNGOs) staged protest demonstrations here on Friday against the US-led attack on Iraq.