Bosnian Muslims Protest against Israel

Some 2,000 Bosnian Muslims staged a protest march Friday to condemn "aggression against Palestinians" during Israel's recent strikes on targets in Gaza.

The protestors, mostly Bosnian Muslims and youngsters from Turkey or Arab countries studying in Bosnia, chanted "Israel, terrorists!" or "Zionists, terrorists."

"Palestinian people should be protected from aggression, from fascism, from state terrorism which is backed by the West, by the big powers, while no one protects the Palestinian people," said Asad Anabusi, a Palestinian engineer living in Bosnia.

From the start of the new conflict between the Israeli army and Palestinian groups in Gaza on November 14 until a fragile ceasefire on Wednesday, 166 Palestinians and six Israelis, mostly civilians on both sides, lost their lives.

Carrying Palestinian flags and banners condemning the "bloody aggression on Gaza," the protestors marched for an hour along central streets of Sarajevo.

"Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greater) or "Free Palestine, Down with Israel," the protestors shouted.

"Many children were victims and this is even a worse crime against the Palestinian people," said Danijel Senkic of the activist group Front, one of the protest organizers.

In Bosnia, Muslims make up around 40 percent of the 3.8 million population, with the remaining inhabitants mostly Orthodox or Catholic Christians.