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| Thursday, 13 September 2012 23:08 |
Protesters try to break through the US embassy in Sanaa during a protest over a film mocking Islam yesterday. Yemeni forces managed to drive out protesters who stormed the embassy in the Yemeni capital with police firing warning shots to disperse thousands of people as they approached the main gate of the mission. PHOTO | AFP The Citizen Reporters Dar es Salaam. Regional Sheikh Alhad Mussa Salum here has condemned violent attacks that targeted the US Consulate in Benghazi causing the death of Washington's envoy to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans on Wednesday, saying the incident did not befit true Muslims and civilised people. Speaking to The Citizen, Sheik Salum said, however, that he strongly denounced any act of provocation and insults against Islam and its Prophet. He said the film that has drawn worldwide violent protests by Muslims was prepared by an Israel-American describing Islam as "cancer" and painting the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) as sleeping with women. Violent protests continued to rock the Middle East and the Islamic world, during which a protester was killed outside the US embassy in Sanaa Yemen, shortly after crowds stormed the mission's compound; while the Afghan President, Mr Hamid Karzai, cancelled his state visit to Norway fearing eruption of violence in his troubled country. Sheikh Salum said despite the provocation Muslims should protest peacefully or use other "official and diplomatic" channels to lodge their grievances. No official demonstrations were planned for Dar es Salaam, he said although he did not rule out the possibility of similar protests taking place in the country."I am also deeply saddened by the internet film that insults the Prophet. This shows that there are some people who play with people's faith regardless of their feelings, so we strongly condemn the making of that film," he said. The film produced by Israeli-American Sam Bacile depicts the Prophet Mohammed as a sexist while adding other flavours that cause hurt to people professing the Islamic faith. "Despite the fact that this film is provoking our beliefs I advise Muslims to stop taking the law into their own hands, we should follow legal procedures to protect our beliefs," he added.Protests continued yesterday outside US missions across the Middle East in countries like Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. In Egypt angry crowds pelted the US embassy in Cairo. In Yemen protesters also stormed the American embassy complex but were driven out by security agents and the police, in the process causing the death of one protester, according to the AFP news agency. A government official said, in Sanaa, that five other protesters were injured when demonstrators tried to storm the US embassy compound for the second time. President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi apologised to his US counterpart Barack Obama and the American people for the acts of a "mob" and ordered a probe into the attack, Saba state news agency said."Those who were behind (the attack) were a mob that were not aware of the far-reaching plots of Zionist forces, especially those who made a film insulting the prophet," said Hadi. All protesters who breached the fence of the US mission in Sanaa were ejected by security forces, who used water cannons and fired warning shots, the correspondent reported.Some protesters said they saw three vehicles being torched by some of the demonstrators who crossed the first gate where a security kiosk was empty. "O, messenger of Allah... O, Mohammed!" demonstrators chanted.After being evicted from the complex, protesters retreated about 100 metres from the gate, gathering near a checkpoint where they chanted anti-Jewish slogans. "O, Jews, Khaybar, Khaybar. The army of Mohammed will return," they chanted evoking a 7th century war in the west of the Arabian Peninsula in which the Muslims were said to have defeated the Jews.In Afghanstan protests were expected to take place after weekly prayers in Afghanistan yesterday, and for that reason President Karzai postponed his trip to Norway. "He (Karzai) has cancelled his trip for the time being. He won't go, he's worried about possible riots over the release of the film," a presidential aide told AFP on condition of anonymity.In Norway the Foreign ministry confirmed that Karzai's arrival had been delayed because the president felt the need to be in Afghanistan after recent events. The attacks came two days after four Americans, including the ambassador, were killed when a Libyan mob attacked the US consulate in Benghazi, and protesters in Cairo tore down the Stars and Stripes and replaced it with a black Islamic flag. |
