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US embassies boost security in Pakistan, other Asian countries after deadly unrest
Protests against anti-Islamic film led to killing of Washington's ambassador to Libya.
Protests against anti-Islamic film led to killing of Washington's ambassador to Libya. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
KABUL: Following protests in Egypt against an anti-Islamic film and killing of Washington’s ambassador to Libya during a mob attack, security was tightened around US diplomatic missions in Pakistan on Thursday, with officials saying they expected protesters to take to the streets.
Many anxious governments across Asia have stepped up security outside US embassies.
“We have beefed up the security for the possible threats to the US embassy,” Khurram Rasheed, a senior police official responsible for diplomats’ security in Islamabad, told AFP.
“We expect some protests against the embassy tomorrow and we are preparing to handle that.”
In Lahore, police said they had issued an alert to protect the US consulate.
“The security is already tight but we have issued an alert to be careful for any urgent situation,” Abdul Ghaffar Qaisrani, senior police official responsible for security, told AFP.
The low-budget movie was directed by a person that goes by the name Sam Bacile and is believed to be Israeli-American.
The film has been promoted by US pastor Terry Jones, who has drawn protests for burning the Holy Quran and vehemently opposing the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York.
Reaction in Afghanistan, where US-led troops have been waging a decade-long war against the Taliban, has so far been muted. But unwilling to take a risk, President Hamid Karzai postponed his visit to Norway.
“He won’t go, he’s worried about possible riots over the release of the film,” a presidential aide told AFP in Kabul, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
On Wednesday, Karzai and US President Barack Obama discussed how to “help ensure that the circumstances that led to the violence in Libya and Egypt do not pose a threat to US forces or Afghans”, the White House said.
Afghanistan’s government has condemned the film as “inhuman and insulting”, and Pakistan’s said the “abominable” production was designed to stoke inter-faith hatred around the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In Afghanistan, riots killed around 40 people earlier this year after US troops burnt copies of the Holy Quran on a military base.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, joined Afghanistan in demanding that YouTube block the crudely made film that has triggered the protests with its mocking portrayal of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Indonesian authorities are also working with Internet service providers to block access to the film, Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto told AFP.
“The film certainly is offensive… and has upset Indonesian Muslims. We don’t wish for anyone to be provoked by it and for violence to break out here,” he said.
So far, there has been no trouble in Indonesia.
India, which has the world’s third biggest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan, issued an alert to security forces deployed outside US diplomatic missions.
“We have ordered security officers to be vigilant, to prevent any untoward actions taking place,” home ministry spokesman Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia said.
“It goes without saying that we are obviously concerned about all internal and international implications in case something happens. So we are taking extra precautions, it is a pre-emptive effort,” he said.
In Bangladesh, which saw protests by tens of thousands of people against the publication of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) cartoons by a Danish newspaper in 2006, authorities deployed more armed police at the US and other embassies.
The US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Muslim-majority Malaysia, urged Americans to avoid large crowds and noted the potential for unrest around Friday prayers.
The Philippines, a largely Catholic nation that is home to Muslim group the Abu Sayyaf, said police commandos had been guarding the US embassy in Manila round the clock since the unrest in Libya and Egypt broke out.
Reader Comments (40)
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Will I be able to see all the TV anchors dedicate one hour to this issue ? just like how blasphemy law is discussed ? I don’t think so, because who is going to fund all this television creativity after that ? The irony of right wing extremism ! Freedom of speech ? Let me exercise some here ! I call all the private news channels to be funded and sponsored by foreign countries as well as our own. If someone believes that journalism in Pakistan is based on morality and professionalism, then prove me wrong !
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This shows why the non muslim world is right in the negative perceptions of Islam and Muslims
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This is but a ploy to deploy thousands of US marines at US embassy!!
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better safe
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How ironic that after a year after imposed a no-fly zone, helped overthrow Libya’s government and supported the ‘revolution’, their own diplomats get killed in that country. Now Imagine what the US reaction would have been if this happened in Iran, Syria or Pakistan, and compare to to their reaction now in Libya.
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can you imagine if they all turned on the Pakistan embassy? there wouldn’t be a single Pakistani embassy left standing in the civilised world. But, no, because people are generally more civilised and know that burning property and killing ambassadors is not a just or fitting reply.
Why do Muslims have to act like savages each time some idiot talks bad about the Prophet and wants some attention? Why is it our people that fall for the same trap?Recommend
Their hypocrite practises deserve what they are facing in Libya, Yemen and soon to happen in Pakistan and other Muslim countries as well.Recommend
Focus on security fine, but not a single word on why they have to raise the security level? Why dont they act to stop this kind of insanity that causes this kind of pretest at the first place!Recommend
This is what the americans want to show the world how violent islam is and muslims are and muslims fell to this trap, muslims should have used their brain before protesting in a violent manner.
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hatred against any one shouldnt be tolerated .. likewise, muslims should also respect others people religion
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Such delicate sensibilities. On one hand, these guys are lining up outside the western embassies for visas and, on the other hand, they are wanting to burn them down at the slightest provocation.
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Can we not campaign for Muslims allover the world to keep calm~~~~~~and then, those actually guilty of this film making be brought to justice. What is the point of killing innocent people who have nothing to do with the film ?
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@Nadir:
what ploy? Their countryman is killed and you want them to negotiate or wait for another attack? No chance here.
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All,
Pls add Bill Maher’s Religulous http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/ to your watch list.
It is mostly a mockery of Christianity, Mormonism, Scientology and religion in general. Nothing objectionable about Islam.
I bet most of you will like it in this context.
Money back guarantee.
..p
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@Scholar
So the rection to the film created by someone else is to kill somebody who has nothing to do with it. Plus how is attacking embassies going to stop individuals from making this stuff?
And u want to talk about hypocrisy, the muslims were protesting the violent portrayel of Prophet Mohammad in a film by attacking embassies and killing an ambassador.
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@somebody1: The Americans dont need to show the world anything – Pakistanis show how violent muslims are on a daily basis. There are many US muslims and we are proud to be American citizens living in a free country with the ability to practice our religion as muslims. Obama has already said what he thinks of the blockhead that made this film. Recommend
Freedom of speech should be with responsibility and should not promote hate among the people of the world and disrespect other religion and there is a boiling point for any nation or country to show their concerns over such disgusting acts of small group of group and interfaith harmony is much needed for the global peace
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“deadly unrest” One ambassadror got killed and it’s deadly unrest, on the other hand millions have been killed in Iraq on the name of WMDs but the killers are free to roam around
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwTvx6-ok4&feature=youtubegdata_player
Here’s the link, watch it .its so worthless that no one would have paid attention to it,but thanks to these murderers everyone is now watching it. Recommend
Well the same spirit is needed to kick the rulers out. Islam does not allow criminals as state rulers. Why the silence?
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Gen Zia ul haq ka baab: hahaha, superpower and is so afraid of the peoples reaction. u think u are welcomed in their country. u speak and behave like they want u to thats why they dont say anything to you. try once if u have the guts to get out of ur slavementality of US and speak abt ur own standpoints. then see how they will treat u like. Recommend
OIC must immediately punish US & Israel for its highly blasphemous & provocative film “Innocence of Muslims” by STOPPING all oil supplies to America & Israel and all Muslims countries should also snap diplomatic relations with America & Israel.
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A true Muslim can face any panic and painful circumstances but can not tolerate desecration of hole book,Quraan and insult of Mohammed the last prophet,peace be upon him,
Previous history is witness in this connection.
It is the duty of the human being,should avoid committing such crime of desecration and insulting.
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@ Sarmad Hassan, dude are you serious? Blasphemy laws affects our “Pakistani citizens” and not “american citizens” and hence the discussion on our TVs. Rimsha is a Pakistani just like you you by no way superior to her! And whats the connection between blasphemy and this movie? Like one person said “non state actors made this movie” does this pacify you? People like you just disgust me. Cause a nut in America did it, sow e ought to do the same burn some Christians and make name for ourselves. Why should we be discussing this issue, this the problem of American Muslims to condemn this and not us Pakistanis. People like you are going to go out and burn some cars, break some bank doors to feel proud that you have sent USA a message, and in a month you will be applying to get a visa for these “infidel lands”. While “they” will be laughing at your actions. The same we did for Salman Rushdie, in sane reactions, that made people read an unknown book! This movie, if not for this reaction would have died its own death but noooooooo we have to show reactions, to feel proud for namoos e risalat!. but in the morning when it will come to help a poor Pakistani on the road you wont, when time to drive in a lane you wont and when its time to stand in a line you wont, you will bribe a nd will vote for people who take aid from America. My friend beggars cannot be choosers! All laws are for Pak Christians or Ahmadis or Hindus or Shias! and blame everything on the conspiracies!Recommend
The ambassador who was killed had nothing to do with that stupid movie so why kill him?
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So all those who made street violence have seen the film and by their actions, they encourage others also to see it.
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Typical anti American blather. The American constitution protects freedom of speech which includes the right to burn American flags, burn bibles, burn Quran’s, allow Nazi sympathizers to march in front of Jewish Synagogues, and to make films that maybe offensive to Muslims/Christian,Jews/ etc. When these zealots perform these offensive actions the rest of America judges their actions and the leadership (political, religious, and military) jointly condemn those actions as do the American pubic – it’s a system that seems to work and one where violence is not tolerated.
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Pakistan leaders know that the USA has zero ability to censure this film and it’s time for them to publicly acknowledge that as well as make an unambiguous statement that violence against American’s is unwarranted and will not be tolerated. In short – it’s time for Pakistan leadership to finally take a stand against the religious zealots rather than pander to them.
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This shows why US hates most of the Muslim countries. You guys love to backstab on them. If you where a guy who hates US, its your ignorance. Do you think a country will give financial aids continuously even if you work against them? Its your countries politicians who is to be blamed for developing terrorism in the state and not US.
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@Rampants terrorism which was called Jahad in 80′s by US and all western powers. These are the fruits of that same philosophy, now reap its benefits in terms of terrorism.
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There are 100s of thousands of videos and material defaming Islam and other relligions iso we will have tto react everyday and ban internet. only then we’ll feel secure. wont we?
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Where in Islam is it written that u need to kill country men of the person who commmitted crime. These murderers are surely paid agents of Israel out to defame Islam.
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@Katarina:
Millions in iraq had nothing to do with saddam….then why they were killed bu US furepower…?Recommend
Agree with rome.
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Today our class teacher was telling us that we, Americans are very innocent.
She mentioned about the unrest in Libya but she did not tell why it led to. Really innocent
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ET, let’s talk about Benghazi as they say in real estate business location, location and location and nothing else. This city is center of oil export and processing and trading. The place is crawling with agents of countries interested in oil business. How many people are employed in securing the oil infrastructure? Now the puppet government in Libya has less security people in the city than private security guards. It is beyond belief that none could provide security and help to US Consulate.
Now did you find out as to who organized the demonstrations and the same people assured that there is nothing to worry.
One can easily see that there is war going on in the shadows with unnamed players. Do you have any info on how it is progressing.
On the other hand it is much safer to stay with the obvious that Muzzies are out of control.
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Poor us, can only protest!
Unity is what, that is required at this time.
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Just read that the USA has sent two destroyers, the USS Baboon, and the USS McFoul to be stationed off the coast of Libya within days. They are indeed very wary of the situation.
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@somebody1:
How about creating a short film about jesus and his miracle birth. For once, it would be interesting to see the tolerance and civility of terry jones like people in the civilised world.
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@Ali:
The answer is in your text.
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This is very strange and impossible to understand that when US’ leaders believe and think that their any single,minor and ordinary negative activity against the Islam and the muslims any where in the world endangers US’ embassies’,diplomats’,officials’,nationals’ and national interests’ security and protection then why do they do so or why don’t they take solid,stern and practical measures/steps to stop such these types of negative and blasphemous activities most especially importantly against the Islam,muslims and Islamic sacred personalities???????
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