China summoned U.S. Ambassador Joseph Prueher to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to protest the arms sale, but it had no direct comment on Bush's apparent pledge to defend Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.
The imam, Ali al-Bassri, called on tribal leaders to start an army to defend Sunni demonstrators and demanded the withdrawal of government security forces from the province.
Mr Malema has also been forced to defend himself from accusations of making millions from state contracts for firms with which he was involved in his home province, Limpopo.