PESHAWAR/KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least three people were shot dead and dozens arrested Friday as thousands of protesters across Pakistan demonstrated against their president's decision to help the United States track down Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) and punish his Taliban protectors.Most of the violence was in the southern port city of Karachi, where police fought pitched battles with protesters and fired tear gas following Friday prayers during which some Muslim clerics gave sermons in support of bin Laden and the Taliban.
Further protests have been called across the country including one in the capital, Islamabad, Sunday.
Police said gunfire erupted in a poor quarter of Karachi's Sohrab Goth suburb after midday prayers. A spokesman said it was unclear who fired the shots, but two people were killed and three others injured.
Another man was shot dead when police opened fire on a mob trying to ransack a cinema in the Quaidabad area, police said, while a fourth man died of a heart attack while defending his store against looters.
More than 50 people were arrested, police said, adding that they were mostly Afghans. Nearly 2 million Afghan refugees live in Pakistan.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Pakistani Muslims shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest in the southern Pakistan port city of Karachi September 21, 2001. At least two people were shot dead and three others injured as thousands of protesters across Pakistan demonstrated against their president's decision to help the U.S. track down Osama bin Laden and punish his Taliban protectors. Police said gunfire erupted at a rally after Friday prayers in the poor area of Sohrab Goth in Karachi. (Str/Pakistan/Reuters)