"Thousands face down Pakistani police. Situtation escalating."

[Bluebear]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police fired tear gas and clubbed thousands of lawyers protesting President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule, as Western allies threatened to review aid to the troubled Muslim nation. More than 1,500 people have been arrested in 48 hours, and authorities put a stranglehold on independent media...

Though public anger was mounting in the nation of 160 million people, which has been under military rule for much of its 60-year history, demonstrations so far have been limited largely to activists, rights workers and lawyers. All have been quickly and sometimes brutally stamped out.

President Bush's top national security aides said U.S. financial backing for Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts likely will go uninterrupted despite the administration's unhappiness with Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency.

Pakistan has received billions of dollars in aid since Musharraf threw his support behind the U.S.-led war on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071105/ap_on_re_as/pakistan;_ylt=Ar6SikvtNO_SQmJvZxXDVQus0NUE

[babylonsister]

1. Good. As they should. What was he thinking? nt

[L. Coyote]

2. Bush's actions are coming home to roost. Who will be to blame if the region melts down?

[Frustratedlady]

4. "if the region melts down" - I'm just hoping they don't hit the button

and we all melt down.

Has The Kid said anything yet? Why is he being so quiet? Doesn't have a clue what to say? Will we survive his term?

[Bluebear]

5. He's looking at the map of Pakistan & tilting his head curiously, like a dog

Beyond that, don't expect any action of his own.

[Dr.Phool]

10. He's waiting for Uncle Dick to return from his hunting trip.

Then he'll know what to say.

[Blackhatjack]

3. Things will likely escalate quickly from here on out.... and violence will ensue

There does not appear to be any constitutional support WITHIN Musharraf's government for the actions he has taken.

THis is guaranteed to get ugly --and just may galvanize the religious extremists role in the next government.

[havocmom]

6. Lawyers facing off with riot gear wearing cops to protest disruption of rule of law...

Let us hope it is contagious and there is no vaccine.

[grasswire]

8. yeah

Where are those Constitutional law experts of ours? Not in the streets.

[havocmom]

9. Not too many of them even out speaking about rule of law being subverted by cheney junta

Why do they hate America?

[Blackhatjack]

11. Actually that is not true... there are lots of lawyers speaking out in the US

People fail to understand that lawyers are not unionized, and that the voluntary organizations like the American Bar Association have been speaking out, AND helping to bring cases to the courts to challenge the corrupt practices of this Administration.

[Blackhatjack]

12. National Lawyers Guild passes own impeachment resolution....

While the National Lawyers Guild does not represent all lawyers, they are representative of many voluntary legal organizations that are challenging this Administration for its violations of the Constitution.

[havocmom]

13. Good to hear, thanks. But the media didn't seem to notice.

Maybe if they took to the streets en masse...

Kicking for the night shift

[maddezmom]

7. Pakistani police smash protests amid global anger

Pakistani police smash protests amid global anger by Sami Zubeiri
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistani police used tear gas and batons to crush protests by lawyers against President Pervez Musharraf on Monday, despite spiralling worldwide outrage at the imposition of a state of emergency.

The White House said it was "deeply disturbed" by the crisis, urging Musharraf, a key ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, to call elections in January and to quit his military post.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the vote would be on schedule, boosting hopes for a smooth transition to democratic civilian rule, but officials earlier said Musharraf's plans to hang up his uniform were "in limbo".

In a sign of the uncertainty gripping the nuclear-armed Islamic republic, the government was forced to deny swirling rumours that Musharraf had been placed under house arrest by his own armed forces.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071105/ts_afp/pakistanpolitics;_ylt=Am4OvZdQibUUjesSar3UOh4Bxg8F


A Pakistani policeman throws a teargas shell towards lawyers during a protest in Lahore. Pakistani police used tear gas and batons to crush protests by lawyers against President Pervez Musharraf, despite spiralling international anger at the imposition of a state of emergency.(AFP/Arif Ali)