Wave of anti-us protests over film

KABUL: Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Afghan capital yesterday, setting fire to cars and shouting, “Death to America,” the latest in demonstrations that have swept the Muslim world against a film mocking the Prophet Muhammad.

In Pakistan, two protesters died yesterday as rallies intensified, with thousands taking to the streets, burning US flags and an effigy of US President Barack Obama.

About 800 people demonstrated in Warai, in the Upper Dir district, setting fire to a magistrate’s house and the local press club before a protester was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police. Another demonstrator died after being shot in the head during clashes with police near the US consulate in Karachi on Sunday.

Up to 3 000 university students, teachers and employees marched in Peshawar, chanting anti-US slogans and demanding a ban on the Innocence of Muslims movie.

The film, thought to have been produced by a group of Christian extremists in the US, has sparked violent antiAmerican protests across the Islamic world.

US diplomatic missions have been attacked, although the film was privately made, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned it as “disgusting and reprehensible”.

The American embassy in Islamabad was closed yesterday because of the risk of demonstrations, and diplomats have been banned from all but essential travel throughout the country.

A total of 19 people have died in violence linked to the film, including four Americans killed in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

Western embassies across the Muslim world are on high alert and the US has urged vigilance after days of antiAmerican violence provoked by the film.

“There were between 3 000 and 4 000 demonstrators in Kabul. They burnt some police cars, but we could split them up and prevent the insecurity widening,”LieutenantGeneral Fahem Qayem, the police’s quick reaction force commander, said.

Embassies in Kabul’s heavily guarded central zone were placed on lockdown, including the US and British missions, after violence flared near fortified housing compounds for foreign workers.

“We’ll defend our prophet until we have blood across our bodies. We will not let anyone insult him,” said a protester. “Americans will pay for their dishonour.” – Reuters and Sapa-AFP