LUCKNOW, India: The bombing on Askariya shrine in Samarra which brought down its two minarets elicited large-scale protests by Lucknow residents.

On Friday, over 50,000 people staged a protest against the US and demanded the withdrawal of its foreign troops from Iraq. Led by Imam-e-Jumma, Maulana Kalbe Jawad, over 50,000 shouted slogans against the US and its president George W Bush and burnt their effigy and said that the attack on their religious places are being sponsored by the US and Israel and it is a conspiracy to divide the Muslims.

Maulana Jawad, who led the procession after Friday prayers from Asfi Imambara to Chhota Imambara, said there are certain agents of US government who are trying to create a rift among Muslims in India as well as in Lucknow.

On Wednesday night, the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) had organized a meeting of community members at Dargah Hazrat Abbas and condemned the desecration of the Askariya shrine in Samarra. The spokesperson of AISPLB, Maulana Yasoob Abbas has said the Central government should lodge a protest against the attack and reiterated that any move to divide the community will not be tolerated.