Muharraq, Bahrain  - US and Arab leaders came under heavy criticism from hundreds of protesters during a rally in Muharraq, north of the Bahraini capital Manama on Friday, amidst continuing violence in the Gaza Strip.

The protesters stabbed pictures of US President George W Bush, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak, and Palestinian National Authority (PNA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas with knives, for their alleged role in supporting the offensive against the Gaza Strip.

The protestors also set US and Israeli flags on fire and carried coffins for what they described as the fate of the state of Israel and its soldiers.

Placards thanking Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for expelling the Israeli ambassador from Caracas in response to the Israeli offensive were waved during the protest, which also described him as "manlier" than Arab leaders. dpa