Thousands of tribesmen Sunday staged a demonstration in the Pakistani tribal area of Bajaur against last week U.S. missile attack that had killed 18 people, including women and children.

Many people observed strike and shut their business in protest, according reports reaching here. The demonstrators at Enayat Kaley near the Damadola bombing site chanted slogans in favor of al- Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mulla Muhammad Omar.

Some demonstrators threw stones at video shops in the area, the reports said. The demonstrators burnt effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush and Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf.

A large contingent of paramilitary forces was deployed in the area to maintain peace, according to the reports. The police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators and arrested three persons for pelting stones at the shops.

Addressing the rally, member of the National Assembly from Bajaur Maulana Muhamamd Sadiq said that Washington had challenged the Muslims by bombing the area, saying the U.S. air strike was aimed at creating problems in Pakistan.

He claimed that Osama and Mulla Omar were not in the tribal area but the United States rained missiles on civilians.

Tribal leaders Maulana Gul Dad Khan, Maulana Abdur Rashid and Maulan Burhanuddin demanded Musharraf's resignation and compensation to the relatives of the victims.

As the protest against the Bajaur bombing continues in Pakistan, opposition leaders plan to travel to the area on Monday to condemn the incident and to express solidarity with the affected families.

The government disallowed some politicians to enter Bajaur last week and it is likely that the political leaders may not be allowed to enter the tribal region.

Source: Xinhua