Three die as cartoon riots gather force

GUNFIRE and rioting erupted yesterday as more than 70,000 people joined Pakistan’s biggest protest yet against Mohammed cartoons, burning cinemas, a KFC restaurant and a South Korean-run bus station.

Three people died and dozens were injured in two cities, police and witnesses said.

The massive crowd went on a rampage in the northwestern city of Peshawar, torching businesses and fighting police, who struck back with tear gas and batons. It was the third straight day of violent demonstrations in the Islamic nation.