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Anti-Islam film sparks protests and violence across the Muslim world Anti-Islam film sparks protests and violence across the Muslim world
(35 minutes later)
While across the Middle East and wider Muslim world yesterday was a day of demonstrations, burning and violence, in Benghazi tears were shed. They came from Yousef al-Magariaf, president of Libya's new parliament, as he described the death of US ambassador Chris Steven and three of his colleagues. While across the Middle East and wider Muslim world was a day of demonstrations, burning and violence, in Benghazi tears were shed. They came from Yousef al-Magariaf, president of Libya's new parliament, as he described the death of US ambassador Chris Stevens and three of his colleagues.
"Definitely, it was a deliberate attack," insisted al-Magariaf as the city braced for further protests against the crude video the Innocence of Muslims. Insisting it was an assassination not a riot gone wrong, he added: "It was a prepared attack in every sense of the word." "Definitely, it was a deliberate attack," said al-Magariaf as the city braced for further protests against the crude video, the Innocence of Muslims. He insisted it was an assassination, and not a riot gone wrong. "It was a prepared attack in every sense of the word. I was given details of this by witnesses and this makes me 100% sure that this was pre-planned to hit at the core of the relationship between Libya and the United States."
"I was given details of this by witnesses and this makes me 100% sure that this was pre-planned to hit at the core of the relationship between Libya and the United States." While events in Libya were relatively peaceful, that was not true for other cities that saw violent clashes – among them Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, where the German embassy was burned and the British embassy attacked.
If events in Libya were relatively peaceful in comparison with the attack that killed Ambassador Steven, that was not true for other cities that saw violent clashes – among them Khartoum, where the German embassy was burned and the British embassy attacked. By Friday morning what had begun as a small protest outside the US embassy in Cairo on Tuesday had set off protests across the Muslim world. In Srinagar, Kashmir, lawyers protesting against the film held placards carrying the slogan: "America your death has come."
By Friday morning what had begun as a small protest outside on the US embassy in Cairo on Tuesday before spreading to Benghazi had set off similar protests right around the Muslim world. As protesters gathered after Friday prayers in Tunis, Khartoum, Cairo and Sana'a, capital of Yemen, some were encouraged by official interventions.
In Srinigar, Kashmir, lawyers protesting the film gathered outside the Masjid mosque, carrying the slogan: "America your death has come." In the Tunisian capital, where the Arab spring began a year ago, members of the country's interim parliament condemned the film before the planned protests. The Tunis demonstration began in quiet good spirits but ended the day in violence, as demonstrators breached the US embassy compound walls, lit fires and tore down the US flag, replacing it with a black Salafist banner. Elsewhere in the city, the American school was also attacked.
As protesters gathered after Friday prayers in Tunis, Khartoum, Cairo and Sana'a, capital of Yemen, some were encouraged by official interventions. In the Tunisian capital Tunis, where the Arab Spring began a year ago, members of country's interim parliament, the Constituent Assembly, condemned the film ahead of planned protests. There were also protests reported in Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Bahrain. The numbers involved were small in comparison to the vast demonstrations of the Arab spring.
But if that demonstration began in quiet good spirits, by the day's end it would follow a familiar pattern of violence, as demonstrators breached the US embassy compound walls, lighting fires and tearing down the US flag and replacing it with a black Salafist banner. By the end of the day, the back of the Tunis embassy compound was billowing flames and black smoke, while Tunisian riot police, visible inside the compound, appeared to have succeeded in protecting the main embassy building.
Elsewhere in the city, the American school was also attacked. There were also protests reported in Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Bahrain. Later, however, Tunisian state television reported the deaths of three protesters and injuries to 28 during the attempt to storm it, with eyewitnesses reporting gunfire.
In keeping with other places, the numbers involved were small in comparison to the vast demonstrations that were a feature of the Arab spring. It also emerged that Libya had temporarily closed its airspace over Benghazi airport because of heavy anti-aircraft fire by Islamists aiming at US reconnaissance drones flying over the city, after President Barack Obama vowed to bring the ambassador's killers to justice.
By the end of the day, the back of the Tunis embassy compound was billowing flames and black smoke, while Tunisian riot police, visible inside the embassy compound, appeared to have succeeded in protecting the main embassy building. The closure of the airport prompted speculation that the US was deploying special forces in preparation for an attack against the militants involved in the attack.
Later, however, Tunisian state television reported the deaths of three protesters and injuries to 28 during the attempt to storm it, with eyewitnesses reporting gun fire. In Khartoum – where some of the worst violence took place – there were suggestions of direct involvement by the government in encouraging the protests. Richard Woods, headmaster of a Khartoum high school, emailed the Guardian to say transportation appeared to have been provided for demonstrators, including official buses according to another eyewitness.
It also emerged that Libya had temporarily closed its air space over Benghazi airport because of heavy anti-aircraft fire by Islamists aiming at US reconnaissance drones flying over the city, after President Barack Obama vowed to bring the ambassador's killers to justice.
The closure of the airport prompted speculation that the United States was deploying special forces in preparation for an attack against the militants who were involved in the attack.
In Khartoum – where some of the worst violence took place – there were suggestions of direct involvement by the government in directly encouraging the protests. Richard Woods, headmaster of a Khartoum high school, emailed the Guardian to say transportation appeared to have been provided for demonstrators, including official buses according to another eyewitness.
"It appears that after prayers, buses and trucks were on hand to transport people," said Woods."It appears that after prayers, buses and trucks were on hand to transport people," said Woods.
"We have just had afternoon prayers and again you can see people being picked up by trucks and buses around the mosques." "We have just had afternoon prayers and again you can see people being picked up by trucks and buses around the mosques."In Sana'a, the security forces were deployed to protect the US embassy. They blocked the surrounding streets and were confronted only by dozens of protestors at first but soldiers warned that more were expected.
In Sana'a, the security forces were deployed to protect the US embassy. They blocked the surrounding streets and were confronted only by dozens of protestors at first but soldiers warned that more were expected.
Some who appeared early were clear about their aims: "We will carry on demonstrating until the United States bans that film," a teenage demonstrator named Mahmoud told Reuters.Some who appeared early were clear about their aims: "We will carry on demonstrating until the United States bans that film," a teenage demonstrator named Mahmoud told Reuters.
But as the day went on, it became clear that for many the anger was more general: against US policies in the Muslim world in particular, and against the western policies more widely.But as the day went on, it became clear that for many the anger was more general: against US policies in the Muslim world in particular, and against the western policies more widely.
In Cairo – which saw violent clashes through the day around Tahrir Square – not all of those who were initially angry about the film earlier in the week, were prepared to participate. In Cairo – which saw violent clashes throughout the day around Tahrir Square – not all of those who were initially angry about the film earlier in the week, were prepared to participate.
Among these was Wesam Abdel-Wareth, who organised Tuesday's protest, and said that he would not protest on Friday.Among these was Wesam Abdel-Wareth, who organised Tuesday's protest, and said that he would not protest on Friday.
"Our demands have been met," he said. The demands include statements by the Coptic Church distancing itself from the film, an apology by the US embassy in Cairo, cancelling the alleged screening of the film, and taking legal action against the film makers. He added that he understood that the US administration is not responsible for the film and praised secretary of state Hillary Clinton for condemning it. "Our demands have been met," he said. The demands include statements by the Coptic Church distancing itself from the film, an apology by the US embassy in Cairo, cancelling the alleged screening of the film, and taking legal action against the filmmakers. He added that he understood that the US administration is not responsible for the film and praised secretary of state Hillary Clinton for condemning it.