Australia closes its High Commission in Pakistan

Australia has closed its High Commission in the capital Islamabad because of the anti-western demonstrations. Staff have also been advised to stay inside because of security concerns. Meanwhile Pakistani police have opened fire on rioters who were torching a cinema during a protest against an anti-Islam film, killing one man. The man, a driver for a Pakistani television station, was killed when bullets hit his vehicle in the northwest city of Peshawar. Seven people were reported to be injured. It happened on a holiday declared by the government so that people could demonstrate against the video. Tens of thousands of Pakistanis were expected to protest as global Muslim anger mounts over the US-made film, and cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a French magazine. The Pakistani government called an impromptu public holiday – a “day of love for the prophet” – and urged people to protest peacefully to show their opposition to the crudely made film ”Innocence Of Muslims”, the ABC reported. All of Pakistan’s major political parties and religious groups announced protests, as did many trade and transport organisations.