Anti-U.S. Protesters Blow Up Coca-Cola Plant

Maoist guerillas protesting the U.S. strikes against Afghanistan attacked a Coca-Cola plant in southern India on Sunday, blasting dynamite and causing significant damage to the facility.

Elsewhere around the world, protests against the American military campaign were more peaceful, with demonstrators filling streets and crowding mosques. Thousands turned out in Spain, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries.

At least a dozen armed guerillas of the outlawed Peoples' War Group attacked the Coca Cola plant near the town of Mangalagiri in India's southern Andhra Pradesh state, police said.

The guerrillas cut telephone and electric lines before overpowering security guards and blasting several parts of the plant with dynamite and land mines.

Police estimated the damage at $140,000. Coca-Cola said there were no injuries because the plant had been closed for maintenance, but it was beefing up security at other plants.

The attackers left a note that said America is the biggest terrorist state and is trying to dominate all other countries, according to Police Superintendent A. Purnachandra Rao.

In Spain, more than 15,000 protesters marched through the center of Madrid chanting "Peace, Yes! War, No!" and carrying placards that read "No to the bombing of any people."

"It's despicable for the United States to do this in the name of peace and justice, especially given that it itself has supported so many dictatorships," said 68-year-old Spanish protester Enrique Abad.

Some 3,000 Muslims gathered in the central Indonesian city of Solo, holding banners reading "Osama bin Laden is a true holy warrior, not a terrorist" and "Islam unite, destroy the American infidels," witnesses said.

In Thailand, more than 20,000 gathered in mosques to pray for Afghanistan, with the main services taking place in Bangkok and the southern provinces of Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Pattani.