Protests Over Anti-Islam Film Spread Across Arab World

Protests Over Anti-Islam Film Spread Across Arab World As Libya Makes Arrests Over Attack On US Embassy

Violent protests against against an American-made film about the prophet Muhammad continued to rage across the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of the deadly attack on the US embassy in Libya.
Libya said arrests had been made after three embassy staff and US ambassador Chris Stevens were killed after guns, mortars and grenades were fired at the consulate.
Libyan prime minister Mustafa Abu Shagur told the AFP news agency: "We have some names and some photographs. Arrests have been made and more are under way as we speak."



During a demonstration in front of the U.S. embassy in Cairo, Egypt, protesters hold up a flag that says "No God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet," and chant anti U.S. slogans
The announcement that Libya had made a “big advance” in finding those responsible came as a senior Libyan security official raised questions over whether the protests were a cover for a militant jihadist operation.
Wanis el-Sharef, eastern Libya’s deputy interior minister told the Associated Press that it was an organised attack on the US organised to co-incide with the 9/11 attacks. American warships are being sent to Libya as a “precautionary measure” reported the BBC.


A Yemeni protestor chants slogans during a demonstration in the capital, Sana'a Four people were killed in protests in Sana’a, Yemeni officials said, after thousands of demonstrators stormed the embassy gates chanting “death to America” on Thursday.
Security forces fired water cannon and tear gas into the crowds and demonstrators were driven back before reaching access to the main house. The White House confirmed that US embassy staff were safe and had been moved to another location.


Over 200 people have been injured in clashes in Cairo In Cairo, hundreds of protesters could be seen gathering outside the US embassy as clashes between police and demonstrators continued into a third day.
More than 220 people, including members of the security forces have been injured in the attacks, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry.
Egypt's governing Muslim Council described the film as "disgraceful" but issued a call to stop the violence.
In a translated statement, they said: "The peoples and governments of the Muslim world have every right to condemn, with all peaceful and legal means, this new violation and heinous attack, and to take appropriate action to deter repeats of such acts of barbaric aggression.
"While we reject and condemn the bloodshed and violent response to that abuse and the incredible tolerance certain countries show towards it, we cannot ignore the fact that these countries never made a move regarding the abuse until after the strong reaction seen across the Muslim world.
The protests appeared to be static in Cairo, although Sky News reported that missiles were being thrown by protesters closest to the embassy.



A US flag was also burnt during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh Protests have been on a much smaller scale in Gaza and Iran, with no reports of violence. An AFP photographer said around 500 people demonstrated near the Swiss embassy, which represents American interests in Iran, in the capital Tehran, chanting "Death to America, while American flags were reportedly burned outside the US embassy in Tunisia.
Large protests in Baghdad and Basra are expected after Friday prayers, AP reports. Israel is stepping up its security in Jerusalem for the same reason.
The violence was sparked by a low budget American film The Innocence Of Muslims that apparently depicted the Prophet Muhammad as a homosexual.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington had nothing to do with the video, which she called "disgusting and reprehensible".

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