Pakistani minister wants anti-Islam filmmaker dead

Islamabad, Sep 22 (IANS) Pakistani Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour Saturday offered a $100,000 reward to anyone who kills the maker of the anti-Islam US video.

The blasphemous YouTube film "Innocence of Muslims" triggered violent protest in Pakistan and other Muslim nations. Some 20 people died in Friday's violence in Pakistan.

"I request all the rich people to bring out all their money so that the killer can be loaded with dollars and gold," Xinhua quoted the minister as saying.

"There is no other way to lodge a protest and instill fear among the blasphemers other than murder of the filmmaker," Bilor said at a press conference in Peshawar.

Peshawar was the scene of a violent protest against the film Friday. Demonstrators burnt two cinema houses, and damaged vehicles and shops.

The minister said his reward is amounting to commit a crime by instigating people for murder, but he is ready to be branded as a criminal.

"If there is a case lodged against me in the international court or in this country's court, I will ask people to hand me over to them.

"I want to show these countries that we will not tolerate any such things," he added.

He condemned the burning of a Church by protestors in Mardan city Friday during a violent protest.