Pakistan set for protests

Pakistani Muslim demonstrators protest against an anti-Islam film in Lahore on Thursday. ( AFP-Yonhap News)

Tens of thousands of Pakistanis are expected to protest Friday as global Muslim anger mounts over a U.S.-made anti-Islam film and cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a French magazine.

Huge crowds attempted to storm Islamabad’s diplomatic enclave Thursday, and similar demonstrations took place around the world, with crowds from Nigeria to Iran and Afghanistan chanting: “Death to France” and “Death to America.”

Western missions across the Islamic world are on high alert ahead of Friday prayers, which are often followed by protests.

The Pakistani government has called an impromptu public holiday on Friday ― a “day of love for the prophet” ― and has urged people to protest peacefully to show their opposition to the crudely made “Innocence of Muslims” film.

All of Pakistan’s major political parties and religious groups have announced protests, as have many trade and transport organizations.

Shops, markets and petrol stations will close and transport is likely to come to a standstill, but authorities will hope there is no repeat of the violence seen on the streets of the capital on Thursday.

Around 5,000 angry protesters, many armed with wooden clubs, battled police near Islamabad’s heavily guarded diplomatic enclave, demanding access to the U.S. Embassy, as police used tear gas and live rounds to disperse the crowd.

There have been dozens of protests against the film across Pakistan in the past week, and two people have died, but Thursday was the first time violence erupted in the capital. (AFP)