KARACHI, 6 March 2006 — Over 50,000 protesters marched in the southern city of Karachi yesterday to protest against cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Many chanted, “Hang those who insulted the Prophet.” They took the opportunity to criticize the government and the United States. The protesters carrying placards with the Prophet’s name written on them in Arabic, also chanted “Death to America,” “Death to Israel” and “Death to Musharraf,” a reference to President Pervez Musharraf.

Hundreds of riot police lined the two-kilometer stretch of a road in central Karachi where the rally was held but there was no violence. Muslims consider the cartoons, first published in Denmark last year, blasphemous. They sparked widespread protests across the world after they were reprinted in European papers this year.

Protesters also burned an effigy of US President George W. Bush, who ended a 24-hour visit to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Saturday. A coalition of Islamic groups, Muttaheda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), opposed to Musharraf and the United States organized the rally, the latest in a series of protests it has held against the cartoons.

Maulana Fazlur Rahman, parliamentary opposition leader and a senior figure in the MMA alliance said at the rally, “The force that has gathered for the protection of the Prophet’s honor, will be used to topple this undemocratic regime, which is serving American interests.”

“This movement for the protection of the sanctity of the Prophet Muhammad will lead to a revolution,” Liaquat Baloch, a central leader of the MMA told the rally. An intelligence official estimated 50,000 people took part in the rally. Witnesses said the protest was peaceful and there were no reports of violence.

A large number of women wearing veil and girls with headbands inscribed with Allah-o-Akbar (God is Greatest) also took part.

A nationwide strike called by Islamist parties against the cartoons paralyzed Pakistan on Friday hours before Bush arrived.

Two people were killed in protests in the city of Lahore and three in the northwestern city of Peshawar last month.

Many people in Pakistan oppose Musharraf’s support for the US-led war on terrorism.

Musharraf, who wants to create what he calls an enlightened and moderate Pakistan, has also criticized the cartoons and he expressed his indignation over the issue in his talks with Bush. — Additional input from agencies.