Kashmir protests Saddam's hanging

Srinagar: Shops and markets closed and streets were deserted in Srinagar and other towns in India-administered Kashmir on Friday in a second day of protests over the execution of Saddam Hussain.

Protesters took to the streets in Srinagar chanting "Down with Bush" and other slogans.

"This is a barbaric incident," businessman Imtiyaz Ahmad said of the hanging of the former Iraqi president. "Americans have humiliated Sunni Muslims and we should strongly protest against it."

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of angry demonstrators burning the American flag during the protests, police said.

The protesters also burned effigies of US President George W. Bush as they came out of mosques after Friday prayers and hurled rocks at government forces in the streets of Srinagar.

At least 20 protesters and four policemen were injured one seriously an officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to journalists.

At least nine people were hurt the previous day when officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters.

The former Iraqi leader's execution also sparked sporadic protests in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where authorities said they were investigating an attack on tourists by groups of protesters the day before.

The protesters pelted a tourist bus with stones in the Taj Mahal town of Agra, wounding some. The tourists were from India's southern state of Goa which has a sizeable Christian population.

"The Agra police were trying to identify the culprits and suitable action will be taken against them," an official spokesman said.