Anti-Bush protests in Lucknow, Srinagar: One dead
by Kamna Hajela Mathur/Bilal Butt

      Lucknow/Srinagar: Tension over US President George W Bush's visit to India is yet to subside. On Friday, the City of Nawabs, Lucknow and the Kashmir Valley spewed forth venom against the presence of the U.S. first couple, which resulted in at least one death and injuries to several others, even as hardcore Muslim faithful took the opportunity of Friday prayers to carry out anti-Bush namaz.

    While in Lucknow it was more about the Bush visit, in Srinagar, the violence was centered around the controversy surrounding the caricatures of Prophet Mohammad. At least one person was killed and over 15 injured when anti-Bush protestors went on a rampage, damaging shops and vehicles in Lucknow. They also clashed with people while trying to enforce a shutdown leading to tension in some areas of the city. According to reports, several shops and vehicles were set on fire by the mob. "We reached to the spot soon after receiving the information regarding violence with security forces to control the situation," said Asutosh Pandey, SSP Lucknow. Fire tenders and riot control vehicles 'Vajra' were rushed to the affected areas, he added. However, he denied any lapse on the part of police to control the violence and said that there no one was seriously injured. Aminabad, Maulviganj, Hazratganj, Kaiserbagh and Sabji Mandi areas were tense after demonstrations against US President George W Bush's visit to India turned violent as a group of protestors who converged near the Assembly tried to force shops and markets to close, police said. They said there were also reports of firing in the air from some areas and several shops and vehicles were damaged in brickbatting. Additional security personnel had been rushed to the areas to control the situation, police said adding that shops and business establishments downed shutters in the main markets of Lucknow following the incident. Protest demonstrations were also organised in the city. Earlier in the day, Muslims from all walks of life offered anti- Bush namaz at various mosques in the city. "We hope a curse befalls on Bush and such other enemies of humanity. It is also a prayer for the weak and the innocent that they should win and we have prayed that the cruel people of this world should be punished by Allah as soon as possible," said Maulana Kalbe Jwaad. People raised slogans and let black balloons in the air.

    Sunni Muslims in Lucknow protested outside the Legislative Assembly. In Srinagar, at least 35 people including two press photographers were injured today in a clash between police and protesters in Jamia Masjid area here as the outcry against publication of cartoons of Prophet Muhammad continued in Kashmir Valley. Hurriyat Conference hardline faction Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who gave a call after Friday prayers for "peaceful protests" against the Danish cartoonist was placed under house arrest, officials said. Photojournalists Mukhtar Ahmed Khan and S Irfan Ahmed covering the clash between the protesters and police outside Jamia Masjid were injured after being hit by stones thrown in the melee. While Ahmed was struck on the nose, Khan sustained an injury on his hand. The two were discharged after first aid, they said.

7 million dollars for joint AIDS/HIV fund

       New Delhi: Keen to contribute and improve ways of tackling the delibitating disease of AIDS and HIV, the Bush Administration has agreed to donate seven million dollars to a Indo-U.S. corporate fund for HIV/AIDS. Both Washington and New Delhi have also agreed to a five-year collaboration in prevention of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and HIV/AIDS. The GIVE Foundation and the ICICI Bank will manage the corporate fund that will include contributions from Indian and American business entities. Both countries have also agreed to expedite FDA review of genetic Indian anti-AIDS, collaboration in basic sciences, product development and clinical trials. India and US have also agreed to collaborate on ways to tackle Avian Flu, with New Delhi offering to host a regional conference on Avian Flu pandemic preparedness under the aegis of the WHO. Promotion of bilateral cooperation in health tourism is also on the cards, as both countries do feel that there is enormous potential in this area.

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