Tens of thousands of Pakistanis rush to streets in the southern port city of Karachi to denounce the 'unwelcome' presence of the US forces in the nuclear-armed country.

 

Over 10,000 participants, holding party flags, banners and placards, chanted anti US slogans and demanded the Pakistani government to reject Washington's policies and mischief in the region. Also, members of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), a religious political party,  burnt American flags and chanted anti-US slogans.

 

The protesters also accused US president Barack Obama of pursuing the same policies of his predecessor in the  volatile region. The demonstrators chanted slogans like "Leave America, Leave!" and "Down with the US," while holding banners which read "No to American Slavery," a Press TV correspondent reported.

 

Addressing the rally, JI chief Munawar Hassan held US responsible for political and economic instabilities in Pakistan. While condemning the US drone attacks in Pakistani tribal region, protestors held President Obama responsible for the killing of "innocent people".

 

Washington maintains the drone attacks are targeted at suspected militants, but Pakistani media say only a fraction of US missiles actually hit militant hideouts. Hundreds of Pakistani civilians have lost their lives in attacks, which started under the Bush administration. Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the US raids, demanding an immediate end to the drone attacks.

 

The demonstration in Karachi takes place as the Pakistani military is preparing to mount an all-out assault on pro-Taliban militants in the South Waziristan tribal region along the Afghan border.

 

At least Thirteen Pakistani troops and 18 Taliban insurgents were killed in clashes in the volatile region over some past 24 hours.