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Anti-Islam film sparks protests and violence across the Muslim world Controversial film sparks protests and violence across the Muslim world
(about 4 hours later)
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. While across the Middle East and wider Muslim world Friday 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," 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." "Definitely, it was a deliberate attack," said al-Magariaf as the city braced for further protests over 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."
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.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.
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 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."
As protesters gathered after Friday prayers in Tunis, Khartoum, Cairo and Sana'a, capital of Yemen, some were encouraged by official interventions.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, 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. 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 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 attacked.
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.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.
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.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.
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. Later, however, two protesters were reportedly killed and 40 injured during the attempt to storm it.
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. It emerged that Libya had temporarily closed its airspace over Benghazi airport because of heavy anti-aircraft fire by Islamists aiming at US reconnaissance drones over the city, after Barack Obama vowed to bring the ambassador's killers to justice.
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. The closure of the airport prompted speculation that the US was deploying special forces in preparation for a raid against the militants involved in the attack.
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. 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 witness.
"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."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. "We have just had afternoon prayers and again you can see people being picked up by trucks and buses around the mosques."
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. In Cairo there was violence throughout the day around Tahrir Square and one protester died after clashes with police near the US embassy. But others there who had been angry about the film earlier in the week were not prepared to participate.
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. Among these was Wesam Abdel-Wareth, who organised Tuesday's protest, and said he would not protest on Friday.
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. "Our demands have been met," he said. The demands included statements by the Coptic Church distancing itself from the film, an apology by the US embassy in Cairo cancelling an alleged screening of the film.
Among these was Wesam Abdel-Wareth, who organised Tuesday's protest, and said that he would not protest on Friday. 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. The search engine Google on Friday night rejected a request by the Obama administration to reconsider a decision to keep a clip from Innocence of Muslims online, Reuters reported.