ISLAMABAD, Pakistan— He Imeted police guarded an American cultural center today after five people were killed and 83 hurt in a riot by Moslem fundamentalists against U.S. publication of a book they consider blasphemous. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto ordered a probe into the February 12 storming by nearly 3,000 Moslem fundamentalists of the building housing the U.S. Information Center, official media reported.
A.US. Official said the center’s staff members were traumatized, and the U.S. Embassy urged “extreme caution” for Americans living in the capital.
Police repeatedly fired semi-automatic weapons, rifles and shotguns at charging protesters who. bummed an American flag, yelled “Allah Hu Akhar God is great!” and hurled rocks and bricks during three hours of fierce clashes.
All five dead suffered gunshot wounds, hospital officials said on condition of anonymity. Hospitals reported 83 injuries and police said they arrested at least 65 protesters.
The protesters had tried to march to the American Center in central Islamabad to demand the United States ban “The Satanic Verses,” a novel by Salman Rushdie.
Pakistan banned the novel on grounds it offends Moslems by suggesting the prophet Mohammed was fallible, India also banned the novel, which has been published the United States, Britain and several other Western nations.
Protesters set several small fires and burned effigies representing the Indian born Rushdie and the United States, “Hang Salman Rushdie!” one man yelled.
Three U.S. Diplomats and 15 Pakistanis employed at the center were in the building at the time but were not hurt, U.S. diplomats said.
“The staff is traumatized,” said a U.S. diplomat of personnel at the center which houses a library and US. Information Service offices. The center and the U.S. run International School of Islamabad were closed today.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 17, 1989
