Thousands of Pakistanis hold rallies against US in port city of Karachi
Thousands of Pakistanis march in the southern port city of Karachi to denounce the 'unwelcome' influence of the US in the nuclear-armed country.
About 10,000 participants, holding party flags, banners and placards, chanted anti US slogans and demanded the government to condemn Washington's policies on Sunday.
Members of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), a religious political party, also burnt American flags and chanted anti-US slogans.
The protesters also accused US president Barack Obama of pursuing the same policies of his predecessor in the volatile region.
The demonstrators chanted slogans like "Leave America, Leave!" and "Down with the US," while holding banners which read "No to American Slavery," a Press TV correspondent reported.
Addressing the rally, JI chief Munawar Hassan held US responsible for political and economic instabilities in Pakistan.
While condemning the US drone attacks in the Pakistani tribal region, protesters held President Obama responsible for the killing of what they believe are "innocent people".
Washington says the drone attacks are aimed at suspected militants, but Pakistani media say only one-sixth of US missiles actually hit militant hideouts.
Hundreds of Pakistani civilians have lost their lives in such attacks, which started under the Bush administration. Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the US raids, demanding an immediate end to the imprecise drone attacks.
The demonstration comes as the Pakistani military is preparing to mount an all-out assault on pro-Taliban militants in the South Waziristan tribal region along the Afghan border.
At least Thirteen Pakistani troops and 18 Taliban insurgents were killed in clashes in the volatile region over some past 24 hours.
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