Dubai: Protesters attempted to storm the US embassy in Yemen’s capital Sana’a and one person was reportedly shot dead, while there were also demonstrations in Egypt and Iran against a film seen as insulting to Islam.
The spread of violence follows the killing of the American ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three colleagues during an attack on consular buildings there two days ago. US lawmakers said on Thursday that groups tied to Al Qaida may have been involved.
Demonstrators in Sana’a breached the compound’s security perimeter and set two cars ablaze, as security personnel fired into the air to disperse the crowd, killing one protesters and injuring 5.
In Cairo, police were injured and dozens of protesters arrested in a third day of clashes near the US embassy, and in Tehran demonstrators gathered outside the Swiss mission, which represents US interests there. In Brussels, Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi promised to protect foreigners and diplomatic missions in his country.
He said the Egyptian government had assured US President Barack Obama that it would not permit “any such occurrence in our country against the embassies present in our territories”.
The anti-American violence threatens US efforts to establish ties with the new governments that are emerging in the Middle East after last year’s wave of revolts.
Yemen and Egypt are longtime US allies, while Libya’s political leaders are drawn from the rebellion against Muammar Gaddafi that was backed by American air power. The Pentagon dispatched an anti-terrorism team of 50 US Marines from Europe to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, to safeguard the US embassy there and also assist in evacuating American personnel from Libya. Meanwhile, Libya has made several arrests over the attack. Initial reports said that Ambassador Chris Stevens and the three other Americans were killed by a mob outside the consulate in Libya’s second largest city late on Tuesday as they tried to flee an angry protest against a US-produced movie deemed offensive to Islam.
But it is now believed Stevens died from smoke inhalation after becoming trapped in the compound when suspected militants fired on the building with rocket-propelled grenades and set it ablaze.
US officials are investigating the possibility that the assault was a plot by Al Qaida affiliates or sympathisers, using the protest against the film as a cover to carry out a coordinated revenge attack on Tuesday’s anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US.
The finger of blame initially fell on hardline Salafist group Katibat Ansar| Al Sharia.
