A MOB of Indonesian Islamists waving jihad flags attacked the US embassy in Jakarta, throwing rocks and bricks, but they were repelled by tear gas and riot police.

About 500 people from a number of radical groups were protesting against the movie Innocence of Muslims by calling for the arrest and death penalty for movie director and filmmakers Sam Bacile and Terry Jones.

Shouting "Allahu Akbar" and "F--- America", the mob, many of whom were masked, marched on the embassy and, when they arrived, promptly began to attack. Riot police were initially caught unprepared and without their shields.

Volleys of rocks and bricks, broken from the pavement, rained on the police and embassy guards. Local media also reported several petrol bombs being thrown at the embassy.