U.S. embassies beef up security in Pak, other Asian countries after anti-Islam film riots

Islamabad, Fri, 14 Sep 2012 ANI

Islamabad, Sept. 14 (ANI): Security was beefed up around U.S. diplomatic missions in Pakistan following protests in Egypt against an anti-Islamic film resulting in the killing of the U.S. envoy to Libya during a mob attack.

According to The Express Tribune, many anxious governments across Asia have stepped up security outside U.S. embassies.

"We have beefed up the security for the possible threats to the U.S. embassy. We expect some protests against the embassy tomorrow and we are preparing to handle that," Khurram Rasheed, a senior police official in Islamabad was quoted, as saying.

The anti-Islam movie was directed by a person called Sam Bacile, believed to be Israeli-American. The film was promoted by U.S. 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.

Afghani President Hamid Karzai postponed his visit to Norway fearing possible riots in the country, a presidential aide said.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, joined Afghanistan in demanding that YouTube block the film that has triggered the protests with its mocking portrayal of the Prophet Mohammed.

India, which has the world's third biggest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan, issued an alert to security forces deployed outside U.S. diplomatic missions.

"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," home ministry spokesman Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia said.

Besides Pakistan and Afghanistan, security has been heightened in the embassies in Bangladesh, Kuala Lumpur and Philippines. (ANI)