19 Killed, 50 Injured in Bombing at Muslim Shrine in Pakistan

A suicide bomber attacked a Muslim shrine here as hundreds of people gathered for a religious festival, killing at least 19 and injuring more than 50.

After the blast at the Bari Imam shrine, an angry crowd clashed with policemen who were trying to clear a path for ambulances. Protesters pelted officers with stones until police used batons to disperse them.

Islamabad Police Chief Talat Mahmood confirmed that the blast had been a suicide attack but said it was not yet clear whether the bombing was tied to Pakistan’s periodic sectarian violence or had another cause. Reports at the scene indicated that both Shiite and Sunni Muslims were among the devotees.

Police gathered the remains of the suspected attacker. Later in the day, they circulated a picture of the suspect that showed a bloodstained face and offered a reward of $8,300 for information leading to his identification, Reuters news service reported.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf condemned the attack, expressed grief over the loss of lives and appealed to citizens to help combat terrorism. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced financial help for the victims and directed authorities to provide free medical treatment for those who were hospitalized.

The blast occurred in an area that includes the high-security diplomatic enclave where embassies are located.

Meanwhile, thousands gathered in Islamabad on Friday to protest the alleged desecration of the Koran by investigators at the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The protesters, affiliated with an alliance of Islamic parties, shouted slogans against the United States and Musharraf and burned American flags and effigies of President Bush. They gathered outside Parliament House and called upon Muslims throughout the world to fight what they called the Bush administration’s anti-Islam attitude.

United Action Forum chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed said former Guantanamo prisoners who had returned to Pakistan had accused U.S. soldiers of abusing the Koran to torment Muslim detainees.

On Thursday, the U.S. commander of the prison at Guantanamo Bay said a military investigation had shown that soldiers had mishandled Korans on five occasions but found “no credible evidence” to support one detainee’s claim that a copy of the holy book had been flushed down a toilet.

Newsweek magazine retracted and apologized for a report early this month on the toilet allegation, which triggered protests, some violent, throughout the Muslim world.

There were similar protests Friday in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, Reuters reported.

The protests in Islamabad occurred as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca was visiting the country and holding talks with leaders.

Rocca met with Musharraf on Thursday. According to the Pakistani Foreign Office, the president asked that the U.S. government hold an inquiry into the mishandling allegations and punish any personnel found guilty.