Islamists across Pakistan rally against Trump

The demonstrators dispersed peacefully after Thursday's rallies in the capital, Islamabad. Similar anti-US rallies were also held in Karachi, the country's largest city, and in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, as well as in the city of Multan in Punjab province.

The rallies came a day after Trump's announcement angered the Muslims across the world.

Islamabad has asked the United States to reconsider any move that alters the legal and historical status of Jerusalem.

Muslim-majority Pakistan has already reiterated its support for the Palestinians, who claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, meanwhile, says his government is "deeply concerned" over Trump's move which "hurts the sentiments of the entire Islamic world."

The move – which Trump had pledged during his 2016 presidential campaign – ends seven decades of US ambiguity on the status of the Holy City, which is vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.

It immediately caused a stir with US allies who condemned the move, and sparked anger among Palestinians and their supporters.

Saudi Arabia blasted the move as "unjustified and irresponsible", and said it goes against the "historical and permanent rights of the Palestinian people."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Trump's "deplorable and unacceptable" move meant that the United States was withdrawing as a sponsor of the peace process.

Through gritted teeth, Britain described the move as "unhelpful" and France called it "regrettable." Germany said plainly that it "does not support" Trump's decision.

Eight countries including Britain, France and Italy pressed for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the move, which was set for Friday.

The leaders of Muslim nations meanwhile deployed ever-harsher rhetoric to describe Trump's decision.

Turkey and Iran, both vying for regional influence, tried to give voice to the anger felt by many across the Muslim world.

Ankara called the decision "irresponsible" and illegal. Tehran said it would "provoke Muslims and inflame a new intifada."