Wednesday, September 27 2006 15:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir capital was rocked by protests against the death sentence awarded to Mohammed Afzal for his role in the terror attack on India's parliament in December 2001.

Hundreds of people gathered at Lal Chowk, in the heart of the city, shouting slogans like 'Release Afzal'.

The police had a tough time controlling the crowds as they pelted police patrols with stones and obstructed traffic on the highway.

Yasin Malik, chief of the separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), joined the protestors who engaged in a long-drawn battle with the police before they could be dispersed.

Similar protests were reported from the northern Kashmir town of Sopore and adjacent Tarzu village - Afzal's hometown.

Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur in New Delhi signed the death warrant Tuesday directing the Tihar Central Jail authorities to make arrangements for hanging Afzal at 6.00 a.m. on Oct 20.

The Dec 13, 2001, attack on parliament was a meticulously planned exercise in which five Pakistani terrorists - Mohammed, Haider, Hamza, Rana and Raja - breached security barricades in an ambassador car and began random firing at security personnel positioned at the premises.

In the two-hour standoff, six police personnel and a parliament employee were killed.