American rage sparked by an online film that insulted Islam's prophet boiled over Friday among Muslims in at least half a dozen countries, as the United States stepped up security at diplomatic posts across the Middle East.
One of the worst riots
took place in Sudan, where a thousands converged on the German Embassy
and set it on fire, a journalist on the scene said. Some managed to get
inside and pull down a German flag before police with tear gas forced
the crowd to retreat.
In Egypt, a running
battle between police and protesters in Cairo continued into its fourth
day. And Afghanistan saw its first demonstrations Friday, despite the
government's attempts to block the online video from sparking riots.
Aware that protests were
planned for Friday -- the Muslim holy day -- the United States beefed up
security at its embassies and consulates across the Middle East.
"We are in a full-court
press at every single one of the posts in the Middle East and anywhere
else there is any chance of demonstrations after Friday services to make
sure nothing bad happens -- and to have the security in place in case
bad things do happen," said a senior administration official, who was
not authorized to discuss the issue in public and spoke on condition of
anonymity.
The current unrest began Tuesday when outrage over a 14-minute American-made online video that mocks the Prophet Mohammed as
a womanizer, child molester and ruthless killer sparked riots at the
U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four America consulate staffers were
killed, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.
culled from CNN...
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