Date-stamped : 28 Mar97 - 14:19 26 March 1997 Muslims protest Israel cricket team's presence KUALA LUMPUR, March 25: Hundreds of Muslims staged a demonstration and burnt Israeli flags here Tuesday to protest the unprecedented presence of Israel's cricket team in Malaysia. Some 300 members of the Muslim Parti Islam (PAS) which rules Kelantan, Malaysia's sole opposition-controlled state, carried placards reading "Damn You Israel" and "Get Out Israel, We Hate You" at the central Merdeka Square. The group then marched under the scorching sun to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's nearby office to submit a letter protesting the government's decision to allow the Israeli team to enter Malaysia. After delivering the letter, they burnt two Israeli flags as police watched from a distance, then peacefully dispersed. Predominantly Muslim Malaysia has no diplomatic ties with Israel but they have limited trade relations. Mahathir said over the weekend after returning from Saudi Arabia, where he received the King Faisal award for services to Islam, that Malaysia wanted to show the visiting Israelis how different races can live together in peace. The Israeli cricket team arrived here Sunday to compete in the 21-day International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy, the country's first sporting appearance in Malaysia, which has close ties to the Arab world. The Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) earlier said the inclusion of Israel was a condition for holding the 22-nation tournament here. The top three teams in the ICC will automatically qualify for the cricket World Cup. In the protest letter, PAS vice-president Abdul Hadi Awang slammed the government's decision to issue visas to the Israelis, which was seen as tacit diplomatic recognition of the Jewish state. "The government's insensitivity to allow the bastard Israelis to step foot here has shamed the Islam race in Malaysia. It also reflects their close ties with the Zionists at the expense of righteous human values," Abdul Hadi said. "Where is the pride of the Malaysian government? It is clear that the government has no principles and is practising double standards." "What is the meaning of the King Faisal award which is against Israel if the recipient at the same time invites Islam's enemy into the country?" PAS urged the government to cancel the Israelis' visas and make them leave the country immediately. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)