In Jakarta, Indonesia, at least 600 students attempted to knock down the main gate of the Parliament building in the third day of protests against the government for supporting the United Stated in its air strikes in Afghanistan. Though there were reports of clubbing with batons, riot police mainly employed teargas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population.

Hard-line Islamic groups have threatened to round up and expel Americans and other foreigners unless the government opposes the US-led military action. But their views are in the minority.

This incident is the latest in a series of demonstrations held worldwide as many Muslim nations register their opposition to the air strikes in Afghanistan. In Pakistan, five people have been killed since protests began on Monday. There, Islamic groups have called for a Holy War or jihad against what they feel is a worldwide attack on the religion. Other countries with large Muslim populations have not been spared from demonstrations. In Calcutta, India, several communist parties have staged rallies demanding that the United Stated cease its strikes and try its case against the Saudi-born businessman, Osama bin Laden according to international law. In Malaysia, leaders of the main opposition Islamic party have called for demonstrations in front of the United States embassy, endorsing a Jihad if necessary.

Earlier this week more than 1,000 activists from the Islamic party took to the streets in the South Asian country of Bangladesh, burning American flags and effigies of President Bush. In the Philippines on Wednesday, about 50 protesters staged a rally outside the US embassy in Manila to denounce the administration for supporting the US coalition.

These governments are caught between trying to balance Muslim concerns about the attacks against their country's need for good relations with the West. They generally have not condemned the strikes, but have not overwhelmingly backed them either, warning of civilian losses.

In addition, the world's largest Muslim body, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held an emergency meeting in Doha, Qatar, to condemn the suicide attacks on the United States.

However, it cautioned that the attacks be carefully targeted to avoid non-military casualties. It also warned that an extension of the anti-terrorism campaign to other Muslim states like Iraq and Iran would not be tolerated. Despite the public announcement, countries like Egypt and Oman, for which demonstrations are rare have seen two straight days of student protests.