The firestorm of protests over the ill-conceived film that mocked Mohammed continue in the Muslim world today.
More embassies across the Islamic world have begun to feel the onslaught of the demonstrators following the attack on the Benghazi Consulate on Tuesday where four people were initially killed, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. Stevens had only been at his current post as ambassador a scant four months before his untimely death.
The unrest in Egypt continues and has gone into its third day, protesters there have been pushed about three hundred yards away from the diplomatic compund there however. Earlier in the day demonstrators attempted to storm the barbed wire surrounding the embassy, but were pushed back, but not before turning their attention on, and setting afire a number of the vehicles there. Two of the vehicles were police trucks. The Egyptian Health Ministry says that the number of people injured in the clashes there have now reached 224.
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Reports have come out of attacks in Sana’a, in Yemen. Hundreds of demonstrators there have stormed the embassy, destroying several diplomatic vehicles and smashing out embassy windows after breaking through the gate at the heavily fortified embassy. Protesters have torn down and burned the American flag flying there and replaced it with a black flag bearing the words, “There is no God but Allah.”
Security forces there eventually managed to drive the out the protesters who assailed the compound on three sides, by firing warning shots, tear gas, and pummeling the mob there with water cannons.
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, approximately 1,000 Khelefat Andolon protesters attempted to march on the embassy there but were turned back by security forces. Although there have been no reports of violence as yet, the demonstrators threatened to intensify the action there. A senior leader of the group, Moulana Hemayetuddin is reported by Reuters as saying, “We will stage bigger protests over the issue and may also besiege the U.S. embassy.”
Hundreds of Shiite Muslims under Muqtada al-Sadr demonstrated and demanded the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. That throng burned American flags and carried banners displaying the words, “We Reject the attack on the prophet Mohammed.”
In Tehran, where the U.S. has no embassy, 500 protesters converged on the Swiss Embassy. The Swiss Embassy is the go-between of United States and Iran, who have no diplomatic relations. Hundreds of members of the police force held them back from gaining their goal however.
Demonstrations have also broken out in Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and parts of Kashmir.
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The president of Afghanistan has delayed his trip to Norway that was scheduled for Friday. Hamid Karzai said “in light of the serious events in some Arab countries recently.” he finds it necessary to remain in his country. In a conversation with President Obama, Karzai expressed his condolences for the “tragic loss of American life.”
In Nigeria, the national police chief there had his forces increase security at all foriegn missions in that country. Police Chief Mohammed Abubakar said he has directed his commanders to create “water-tight security in and around all embassies and foreign missions in Nigeria as well as other vulnerable targets.”
While the excerpt from the movie “Innocence of Muslims” has been banned in Libya and Egypt, the leader of Indonesia has also requested Google and Youtube to block the video there. Last week, about 100 protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and praised the 9/11 attackers.
The creator of the film that has enraged the Islamic world, the man who goes by the fake name of Sam Bacile, remains in hiding.