Bangladeshis protest over Mecca remark

Thousands of Bangladeshi Islamic activists staged a noisy protest in the capital Dhaka yesterday after a US congressman suggested the United States might consider bombing holy sites, including Mecca.

"Allah hu Akbar (Allah is the greatest)", "Be Aware Bush-Blair", "World Muslims Unite to Fight US-British Aggressions," protesters chanted.

US Republican Tom Tancredo made the comment on July 14 in answer to a radio host's question about a possible response to any hypothetical nuclear terrorist attack on the United States.

"If this happens in the United States and we determine that it is the result of extremist fundamentalist Muslims, you could take out their holy sites," the Colorado Republican said.

"You're talking about bombing Mecca?" the host asked. "Yeah," Mr Tancredo responded, according to an audio excerpt posted online by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington-based group.

A spokesman for the congressman confirmed the substance of Mr Tancredo's remarks. Moulana Mohammad Hemayetuddin, a leader of the Islamic Constitution Movement, told protesters in Dhaka: "Such extremist remarks will spark more fire which will engulf not only the US, but the whole world."

Police said there was no trouble during the march. Muslim dominated Bangladesh supported the US in its war on terror following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.