Sri Lankans hurl stones in protest against Akon concert
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Protesters outraged at an upcoming concert by R&B singer, Akon, hurled stones at a Sri Lankan private broadcaster's headquarters Monday, injuring four workers and damaging the building.
Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said several protesters against the Akon concert were taken into custody after throwing rocks at the headquarters of the Majaraja Organisation, the broadcaster sponsoring the concert scheduled for April in Colombo.
The protestors accuse Akon of desecrating an image of Buddha in a music video. The video, Sexy Chick, features scantily clad women dancing at a pool party with a Buddha statue visible in the background. Sri Lanka's ethnic majority Sinhalese are mainly Buddhists.
About 200 people gathered outside the office in the capital Colombo and threw stones at the building, said Chevan Daniel, head of news at Maharaja broadcasting.
Four workers suffered injuries that were not serious, he said. The stones shattered some of the office's windows and damaged several vehicles parked outside the building.
Placards left at the scene read, "Stop Akon's show."
Maharaja Organization has three television and four radio channels and they have come under attack in the past, too.
Last year, a group of armed men attacked its studio and transmission compound, tossing hand grenades and spraying the building with gunfire. There was no clear motive for that attack.
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