US, EU condemn filmmaker bounty
25 September, 2012
WASHINGTON: The United States on Sunday condemned Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour's offer of a bounty to kill the maker of the anti-Islam film. As demonstrators held more rallies against the film – this time in Hong Kong, Turkey, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Bangladesh – even Pakistan's government distanced itself from the comments by Bilour. On Saturday, Bilour offered a $100,000 "prize" for killing the filmmaker. The US State Department on Sunday said US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "have both said the video at the core of this is offensive, disgusting, and reprehensible". The official added, "But that is no justification for violence and it is important for responsible leaders to stand up and speak out against violence." "Therefore we find Mr Bilour's announcement is inflammatory and inappropriate," the official said in a statement Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf rejected the bounty offer. "This is not government policy. We completely dissociate (ourselves) from this," a spokesman for the prime minister's office said. Fresh rallies were held across Pakistan on Sunday to condemn the film after violent nationwide protests on Friday left 21 people dead when police used tear gas and live rounds to fight back protesters. Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday distanced itself from bounty offered by Federal Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour. Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said that Islamabad had nothing to do with the statement issued by the federal minister. Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on Saturday announced a $100,000 reward for killing the producer of the anti-Islam film. The Awami National Party (ANP) on Monday distanced itself from a reward offered by one of its ministers for the death of the anti-Islam filmmaker. End.
|
