Srinagar, Sep 15 (IANS) Hundreds of people, including lawyers, held angry protests in Jammu and Kashmir Friday against alleged anti-Islamic remarks by Pope Benedict XVI even as police placed two senior separatist leaders under house arrest.

Chairman of the hard line Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Ahmed Shah, chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party, were placed under house arrest here Friday morning in the wake of tension in the city over the pontiff's remarks.

Hundreds of local lawyers marched through Srinagar city centre Lal Chowk carrying placards against the Pope and in favour of Islam. The marchers, led by Mian Qayoom, president of the Kashmir Bar Association, shouted "Down with the Pope. Long live Islam".

The protesting lawyers, who were joined by many locals, termed the remarks of the pope as "highly irresponsible" and as "reflecting the hatred against Islam and Muslims".

"Such statements coming from the Pope are highly condemnable. Islam's message of peace and brotherhood is universal," said a lawyer.

Locals gathered outside mosques in downtown Srinagar after the Friday prayers and held protests. No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the Valley so far.

On Thursday, the authorities had seized copies of many national dailies that carried the text of the Pope's speech made in the University of Regensburg (Germany) on Tuesday.

"These copies were seized to prevent their circulation among the locals as that could trigger anger and widespread protests in the Muslim majority Valley," a police official said.

The pope in his remarks on jihad had cited historic Christian commentary on holy war and forced conversion. He had quoted from a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos.

Islamic leaders worldwide have protested the remarks. The Vatican on Thursday clarified that the pontiff's remarks were not meant to offend Muslims with references to the holy war.