The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Film fury singes Pak, 20 killed Over 200 injured Mob torches 6 cinema halls Pak summons US envoy Islamabad/Karachi, Sept 21 Nearly 20 persons were killed and hundreds injured today when thousands of angry demonstrators during government-sanctioned protests over an anti-Islam film turned violent in several cities across Pakistan on a day being observed as 'Love the Prophet Day'. The worst affected was Pakistan's financial hub Karachi, where 14 persons were killed, including two policemen, who were shot dead. Around 110 others injured when anti-film rallies turned violent and anarchy prevailed for many hours in some parts of the coastal city. Officials said nearly 200 people were injured in Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar before the protests tapered off at nightfall. Rampaging mobs destroyed private and government property worth crores of rupees across the country. Protestors vandalised and torched three cinema halls and the chamber of commerce in Peshawar in the northwest. Five persons, including an employee of a TV news channel, were killed in violence in Peshawar city, officials said. ARY News said its employee Mohammad Amir died after being hit by a bullet in police firing. Others were killed in police firing or clashes between protestors and police. In Karachi, mobs torched three cinema halls, three government offices, three banks and several police vans near the Chief Minister's residence. At many places, crowds of protestors looted shops and private buildings. A toll plaza and several vehicles were burnt by protestors on the outskirts of Rawalpindi. Protestors also vandalised a CNG pump, blocked roads by burning tyres and lobbed stones at passing cars. Hundreds of protestors gathered near the gates of the US Consulate in Lahore before they were driven back by security forces at 7.30 pm. Paramilitary Pakistan Rangers personnel were deployed after a police post was torched near the mission. Lahore Police spokesman Niyab Haider said 11 persons, mostly policemen, were injured in the clashes. Thousands of students and members of hardline groups tried to get past police barriers in Islamabad and march to the diplomatic enclave, home to the embassies of the US and most Western countries. The Jamaat-ud-Dawah spearheaded a large rally on the Mall Road in Lahore after Friday prayers. JuD workers removed barricades while trying to march towards the US Consulate. Earlier, life across Pakistan came to a standstill in the morning due to a holiday declared by the government to protest the anti-Islam film. The government is observing the day as "Youm-e-Ishq-e- Rasool" (Love the Prophet Day). Addressing a 'Love the Prophet conference' at the heavily fortified Prime Minister's Secretariat, Prime Minister Ashraf called on the people to protest peacefully without causing harm to life or property. The Pakistan government summoned US Charge D'Affaires Richard Hoagland and lodged a "strong protest" against the anti-Islam film. It demanded that the US take immediate steps to remove the "blasphemous" video from YouTube.— PTI
	France bans protests over Prophet cartoons French embassies, schools & cultural centres closed in 20 Muslim countries Paris, September 21 France confirmed on Friday it would allow no street protests against cartoons denigrating Islam's Prophet Mohammad that were published by a French magazine this week. Interior Minister Manuel Valls said prefects throughout the country had orders to prohibit any protest over the issue and to crack down if the ban was challenged. "There will be strictly no exceptions. Demonstrations will be banned and broken up," he told a news conference in the southern port city of Marseille. The main body representing Muslims in France appealed for calm as the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo put a new print run of the cartoons featuring a naked Mohammad on the news stands. The drawings have stoked a furore over an anti-Islam film made in California that has provoked sometimes violent protests in several Muslim countries, including attacks on the US and other Western embassies, the killing of the US envoy to Libya and a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. French embassies, schools and cultural centres in some 20 Muslim countries were closed on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, in a precaution ordered by the French government. The police was on alert in the French capital after protests planned by some Muslim groups were banned. Mohammed Moussaoui, leader of the French Muslim Council (CFCM), described both the film and the cartoons as "acts of aggression", but urged French Muslims not to take to the streets for unauthorised protests. — Reuters
	US warns citizens against travelling to Pak Washington, September 21 The United States has issued a new travel advisory, asking its citizens to delay all non-essential travel to Pakistan. The warning comes in the light of the protests in Pakistan over the controversial anti-Islam film - Innocence of Muslims - which created furore across the Muslim world. Earlier this week, similar warnings against travel by Americans to Tunisia, Libya, Lebanon, Sudan and Algeria had already been issued by the State Department, reports The Express Tribune. The warnings highlight protests and political rallies against the US, NATO and its ISAF force, drone strikes, and Pakistan's ongoing energy crisis. Over the past week, there have been dozens of protests around Pakistan against the low-budget film, killing at least two people. And for the first time on Thursday, protests in the capital turned violent, the paper stated. The film mocking Muslim Prophet Muhammad, has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online, and more than 30 people have been killed in violence linked to the clips. US President Barack Obama has said that an anti-Islam film is being used as an excuse to carry out violent acts against Americans. "What we've seen over the last week, week and a half, is something that actually we've seen in the past, where there is an offensive video or cartoon directed at the prophet Muhammad. "And this is obviously something that then is used as an excuse by some to carry out inexcusable violent acts directed at Westerners or Americans,"Obama said. — Reuters
	Indian diplomatic bag with 6,000 visa stickers stolen in London London, September 21 In a security breach, three Indian diplomatic bags containing 6,000 visa stickers have been stolen here during transit from the airport to the Indian High Commission. The High Commission was informed on September 3 that four Category 'B' diplomatic bags, including three bags that contained 6,000 visa stickers, had been stolen during transit from the Heathrow airport to India House in Aldwych, central London. The fourth stolen bag contained stationery items, a High Commission spokesperson said. "On that day, in total 27 bags were received. Out of which, 25 bags contained 50,000 visa stickers (2000 in each bag). "The bags were being transported from Heathrow Airport by the clearing agent, who handles 'B and 'C' category diplomatic bags of the High Commission since last several years", the spokesperson said. As soon as the incident came to notice, the High Commission informed authorities in India, and "suitable action" was taken to prevent any misuse of visa stickers, the official said. A case regarding the theft of diplomatic bags was registered with the Metropolitan Police in London. Category 'A' bags are for materials that are considered top secret and is always transported as a hand baggage while Category 'B' contains official communications which are not secret. Category 'C' is for personal letters, newspapers and rest. — PTI