Religious leaders warn of unrest

Religious leaders in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have warned of continuing unrest in response to the US-led strikes against Afghanistan, making it increasingly difficult for aid agencies to operate in a region which may be expected to host hundreds of thousands more Afghan refugees. Religious groups in Pakistan have declared jihad - holy war - against the US, in retaliation for the air strikes, which are targeting Taliban military assets and terrorist training camps. One of the groups heading anti-US protests in the NWFP, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), which held a meeting in Hangu some 100 km from the provincial capital, Peshawar, has warned that thousands of mujahidin fighters are ready to join the Taliban. Pakistani authorities have put the leader of the JUI, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, under house arrest in an attempt to quell protests by the group. Local media sources confirmed to IRIN that thousands of protesters had taken to the streets and attacked police stations and a bank on Monday. At least 13 people, including two policemen, were said to be injured during the demonstrations, in which tear gas was used to disperse the crowds. A UNHCR team was in the process of inspecting camp sites for refugees in the Tribal Areas of the NWFP on Monday, but was forced to return to Peshawar after encountering a large demonstration in Landi Kotal near the border with Afghanistan. Anti-West sentiment is running high among religious groups across Pakistan, and UN staff were asked to stay at home on Monday in fear of possible reprisals. Protesters vented their anger in southwestern Pakistan by burning a UNICEF office in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan Province, substantially damaging the building. Five UNICEF vehicles were also set alight and two motorcycles damaged. Media reports suggested there were some 10,000 people demonstrating in this province alone, and the BBC reported that one man died and several others were injured there. The protests are reported to be continuing on Tuesday. Demonstrations were also held in front of UNHCR offices and the UN Special Mission for Afghanistan in Quetta, where windows were smashed. However, no UN staff member was injured. The UN has said it is discussing the incident with the Pakistani authorities.