Anti US protests sparked by bounty

Demonstrations erupted across Pakistan Friday to protest a U.S. bounty on the head of an Islamist leader.

From Karachi to Lahore, protesters marched through the streets to show their support for Hafiz Mohammad Saeed who is suspected of masterminding the attacks on India's financial capital and parliament.

(SOUNDBITE)(Urdu) LEADER OF AHLE-SUNNAT-WAL-JAMAAT, MAULANA ABDUL RAZZAQ HAIDERI, SAYING:

"God willing no one will dare to do this (Hand over Hafiz Saeed to U.S government for a $10 million bounty). We have mentioned it already that this country is ours. Hafiz Saeed did not commit any crime, and America has no authority to put ransoms on our people. We condemn them (America) as whole."

Earlier in the week, the U.S. announced a 10 million dollar reward for help in Saeed's arrest.

Seen here shortly after the announcement, Saeed is living freely in Pakistan after being released from house arrest in 2009.

He dismissed the bounty as absurd saying, bounties are placed on people living in caves.

Julie Noce, Reuters