Indonesian students protest outside US Embassy
Hundreds of Islamic students in Indonesia today demonstrated outside the US Embassy for the second day running in the world’s most populous Muslim nation against US-led attacks against Afghanistan.
‘‘America and Britain are the enemies of civilization,’’ read a banner carried by the demonstrators, who had earlier rallied outside Jakarta’s UN building.
The protesters joined about 150 activists who had camped overnight outside the heavily guarded mission after staging a noisy rally yesterday evening.
In the city of Makassar dozens of protesters burned the Stars and Stripes and vandalised a billboard belonging to US fast food giant, McDonald’s.
They also threatened to round up and expel US citizens living in the city, 870 miles north east of Jakarta.
There have been no reports of serious violence and Indonesian security forces have promised to protect foreigners.
Nevertheless, the US Embassy and other diplomatic missions have cautioned Westerners to take care.
Some embassies closed yesterday for security reasons.
The US Embassy remains closed today, although the British Embassy has reopened.
