Indian cleric demands Bush apology on sacred sites sacrilege

By: Nizam Hussain

NEW DELHI, India: An Indian cleric on Wednesday demanded from US President George W Bush to “apologize” for the damage caused by coalition troops to sacred shrines of Muslims housed on the holy soil of Iraq.

Maulana Kalbe Jawad told reporters that restrictions would continue on the entry of Americans, Britons and Israelis into Lucknow's 'Imambaras' until US-led forces were withdrawn from Iraq.

“Instead of stopping people from coming to Lucknow, they should withdraw forces from Iraq and stop atrocities on Iraqis,” Maulana Kalbe Jawad said here referring to an advisory issued by Britain cautioning its citizens against visiting holy sites in Lucknow after the cleric and his followers had warned British, American and Israeli citizens to stay away.

“Bush should apologize for the action of coalition troops who damaged sacred shrines of Muslims in Iraq and killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis,” he said further demanding that US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld be tried for war crimes.

Meanwhile, a grand demonstration was staged in the central Indian city of Bhopal on Wednesday against atrocities committed by the US in Iraq. The protestors demanded the withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq holy cities.

END