Indonesian Muslims stage anti-Israel protest outside US embassy

Jakarta - Hundreds of Indonesian Muslims demonstrated outside the US embassy in Jakarta Wednesday, denouncing the Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip that killed hundreds of people.

More than 1,000 protestors, including activists from the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), waved Palestinian flags and shouted slogans to protest Israeli aggression.

It was the latest in a series of protest rallies in Indonesia since Israel attacked Gaza over the weekend.

"We strongly condemn the Israeli military bombardement that took more than 300 lives and injured 1,000 others," read a petition held by Tifatul Sembiring, president of the Muslim-based Prosperous and Justice Party, who called the aerial bombing a form of frustration of Israel's failure to put out the fire of jihad.

After failing to meet with the US Ambassador Cameron M Hume, Sembiring handed the petition to an embassy official, witnesses said.

Sembiring demanded the world stop the aggression and called for an embargo against Israel. He also urged the Indonesian government to take proactive diplomatic steps on the issue.

"Make all the people to help the Palestinian people with one man- one dollar to save Palestine," Sembiring told the crowd. He threatened to bring more protesters to the US embassy Friday.

Similar anti-Israel protests were held in several large cities across Indonesia, the world's most-populous Muslim nation. Many Indonesians are staunch supporters of the Palestinian cause.

On Monday, the Indonesian government condemned the Israeli offensives, calling on the United Nations to convene a special meeting and issue a resolution against Israel and urging swift action to resolve the conflict.

The government said it would also send up to 1 million dollars in aid, in addition to more than 140,000 dollars of medical assistance, to help the Palestinian people.

Jakarta has no diplomatic relations with Israel. (dpa)

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