Anti-US cartoon protests grip Pakistan

Lahore: Protests against the cartoons lampooning Prophet Mohammad have resurfaced in Lahore, ahead of US President George Bush's visit to Islamabad.

Thousands took to the streets in southern Pakistan, but police quickly dispersed the 100 people who defied the ban on rallies in Lahore. They fired tear gas into the crowd and detained 70 participants.

Former-cricketer Imran Khan was also detained by the police in a separate incident.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed, head of MMA, was detained in his party office in Lahore on Friday.

15,000 police officers and 3,000 paramilitary troops were deployed to prevent what is seen as a direct challenge to President Pervez Musharraf's authority.