Groups Vow to Step Up Anti-U.S. Protests

By RIAZ KHAN, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 3 minutes ago

Islamic groups vowed Monday to step up anti-American protests over a purported CIA airstrike that Pakistani officials say killed innocent civilians instead of al-Qaida's No. 2 leader.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, meanwhile, condemned the strike that killed at least 17 people in a village near the Afghan border, but he said he would go ahead with a planned trip Tuesday to the United States to build business ties.

Thousands of Pakistanis poured into streets in cities across the country on Saturday and Sunday chanting "Death to America" and demanding U.S. troops leave neighboring Afghanistan. No protests were reported Monday, but Islamic groups promised more rallies later this week.

"There will be more ... bigger protests," said Shahid Shamsi, spokesman for an alliance of Islamic groups.