BBC News Africa
13 September 2012 Last updated at 10:57 GMT
US embassy in Yemen stormed in film protest
Protesters angered by an anti-Islam film made in the US have stormed the
grounds of the American embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
Police shot in the air in an attempt to hold back the crowds, but failed to
prevent them gaining access to the compound and setting fire to vehicles.
Security forces have now regained control of the compound.
On Tuesday, the US ambassador to Libya was killed in a fire started after the
US consulate in Benghazi was stormed.
US officials say they are investigating whether the attack in Libya was
planned, citing suspicions that a militant jihadist group may have co-ordinated
the violence.
Three other US consul staff and several Libyans died in that attack, along with
Ambassador J Christopher Stevens, who is believed to have died from smoke
inhalation.
Security force reinforcements in Sanaa used tear gas, water cannon and live
fire to drive back protesters.
"We can see a fire inside the compound and security forces are firing in the
air. The demonstrators are fleeing and then charging back," one witness told
the Reuters news agency.
The crowd has been pushed out of the compound, but protests are reported to be
continuing outside. There were reports of injuries on both sides, although
Reuters carried a statement from the embassy saying there were none.
It was not immediately clear whether the embassy was occupied at the time.
There are reports that embassy staff have been moved to a safer location.
'Duty to protect'
There have also been clashes over the past three days in the Egyptian capital,
Cairo.
On Wednesday, demonstrators in Cairo angry at the film - Innocence of Muslims -
breached the walls of the US embassy and tore down the flag. The clashes, which
began on Tuesday, continued in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The interior ministry says 16 people were injured overnight - 13 of them
members of the security forces. Two police vehicles were burnt out and 12
protesters were arrested, they said.
President Mohammed Mursi has appealed for calm, saying Egyptians "reject any
kind of assault or insult" against the Prophet Muhammad.
"I condemn and oppose all who... insult our prophet. [But] it is our duty to
protect our guests and visitors from abroad," he said in a statement broadcast
by state media.
"I call on everyone to take that into consideration, to not violate Egyptian
law... to not assault embassies."
In other developments:
Iranians chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans stage a protest outside
the Swiss embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, which represents US interests
A small protest takes place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, demanding that the
film-maker be punished
Unrest is also reported in Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia
Pakistani police say they "expect some protests" at the US embassy in
Islamabad and are preparing to deal with them, the AFP news agency reports
Security has been increased at US embassies and consulates around the
world; US officials say a marine anti-terrorism team is being deployed to Libya
and two destroyers to the Libyan coast as a precautionary measure
US President Barack Obama has vowed to work with the Libyan authorities to
bring those behind the Benghazi attack to justice
Mr Obama has held phone conversations with Mr Mursi and Libyan President
Muhammad Magarief
Libyan officials have condemned the attack and pledged to investigate
The obscure film which has sparked anger, called Innocence of Muslims, was shot
in the US. Some of those involved have since condemned it, and said they had no
idea it was to be used as anti-Islam propaganda.
Comments referring to Muhammad appear to have been dubbed on, not spoken by
actors.
Little is known about the origins of the film, including the man named as Sam
Bacile whom is reported as being behind its production.
Are you in the area? Have you witnessed demonstrations in Sanaa? You can get in
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