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Angry demonstrators climb walls of US embassy in Cairo to voice opposition to anti-Islam film produced by US-based Coptic group
Egyptian protesters removed the American flag from the walls of the US embassy in Cairo during a thousands-strong demonstration to protest an anti-Islam short film produced by the Coptic-Christian community in the United States.
A number of protesters managed to climb and stand atop the walls surrounding the embassy, while others were able to breach the embassy's garden, where they removed an American flag and replaced it with a large flag bearing the Islamic declaration of faith: "There is no God but Allah and Mohamed is the Prophet of Allah."
The Islamist protesters had answered a call by Salafist leader Wesam Abdel-Wareth who is also the president of Egypt's ultra-conservative Hekma television channel to protest the film 'Muhammad's trial' at 5pm outside the US embassy in Cairo's Garden City district.
The protest began to deviate from its peaceful nature when some demonstrators began setting off fireworks, the sound of which resembled gunfire. Other demonstrators at the scene chanted "Peaceful, Peaceful," urging their fellow protesters to refrain from acts of violence.
At one point, the Egyptian Army intervened, surrounding the embassy grounds in an effort to pacify the situation.
The controversial film is reportedly being produced by US-based Coptic-Christian Egyptians, including Esmat Zaklama and Morees Sadek.
Maurice Sadek, a Coptic lawyer based in the US , announced earlier this week that the US-based 'High Authority of the Coptic State' would broadcast the 13-minute film on Tuesday to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Various local churches in Egypt have condemned the film in recent days, asserting that those responsible for it were merely carrying out their own agendas and did not represent Egypt's Christian community.
As of 8pm, roughly 20 people were standing atop the embassy's outer wall, while some 2,000 protesters amassed outside the building.
In a Tuesday statement, the US embassy condemned the "ongoing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the feelings of Muslims" and the continued attacks on the religious beliefs of others under the guise of "freedom of expression."
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church and Evangelical Church, meanwhile, both released statements on Monday condemning the film, stressing that it did not represent Egypt's Christian community.
Fadi Yousef, a member of the Egyptian Coptic Coalition, demanded that those responsible for producing the film be put on trial, describing the film's content as "offensive to all Egyptians."
Ahram news
---------------------------------
Protesters have breached the wall of the US embassy in Cairo and torn down a US flag over a US-made film which they say is insulting to the Prophet Muhammad.
The flag, which was flying at half mast to mark the 9/11 attacks, was replaced by an Islamist banner.
Thousands of protesters had gathered outside the embassy.
Among the film's producers is said to be a pastor who burnt copies of the Koran earlier this year.
Among the protesters outside the embassy were hardline Islamists known as Salafists and also members of a football supporters' club known as Ultras.
They say the film is about to be shown in the US.
On Tuesday night, a handful of protesters continued to sit on the wall of the embassy but the compound was surrounded by Egyptian riot police and there was no sign of any confrontation, says the BBC's Jon Leyne at the scene in Cairo.
A spokesman for the US embassy in Cairo has categorically denied that any shots have been fired at any time during the protest.
'Free speech'
The US embassy earlier issued a statement condemning "the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims - as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions".
The statement added: "We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."
The US state department said it was working with Egyptian security to try to restore order at the embassy and to get the situation under control.
Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there were no reports of injuries, adding: "We had some people breach the wall, take the flag down and replace it. What I heard was that it was replaced with a... plain black flag. But I may not be correct in that."
The film which sparked the protest is said to have been produced by US pastor Terry Jones and co-produced by some Egyptian Copt expatriates.
Egyptian protesters condemned what they said was the humiliation of the Prophet of Islam under the pretext of freedom of speech.
BBC
Viva Egypt
Egyptian protesters removed the American flag from the walls of the US embassy in Cairo during a thousands-strong demonstration to protest an anti-Islam short film produced by the Coptic-Christian community in the United States.
A number of protesters managed to climb and stand atop the walls surrounding the embassy, while others were able to breach the embassy's garden, where they removed an American flag and replaced it with a large flag bearing the Islamic declaration of faith: "There is no God but Allah and Mohamed is the Prophet of Allah."
The Islamist protesters had answered a call by Salafist leader Wesam Abdel-Wareth who is also the president of Egypt's ultra-conservative Hekma television channel to protest the film 'Muhammad's trial' at 5pm outside the US embassy in Cairo's Garden City district.
The protest began to deviate from its peaceful nature when some demonstrators began setting off fireworks, the sound of which resembled gunfire. Other demonstrators at the scene chanted "Peaceful, Peaceful," urging their fellow protesters to refrain from acts of violence.
At one point, the Egyptian Army intervened, surrounding the embassy grounds in an effort to pacify the situation.
The controversial film is reportedly being produced by US-based Coptic-Christian Egyptians, including Esmat Zaklama and Morees Sadek.
Maurice Sadek, a Coptic lawyer based in the US , announced earlier this week that the US-based 'High Authority of the Coptic State' would broadcast the 13-minute film on Tuesday to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Various local churches in Egypt have condemned the film in recent days, asserting that those responsible for it were merely carrying out their own agendas and did not represent Egypt's Christian community.
As of 8pm, roughly 20 people were standing atop the embassy's outer wall, while some 2,000 protesters amassed outside the building.
In a Tuesday statement, the US embassy condemned the "ongoing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the feelings of Muslims" and the continued attacks on the religious beliefs of others under the guise of "freedom of expression."
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church and Evangelical Church, meanwhile, both released statements on Monday condemning the film, stressing that it did not represent Egypt's Christian community.
Fadi Yousef, a member of the Egyptian Coptic Coalition, demanded that those responsible for producing the film be put on trial, describing the film's content as "offensive to all Egyptians."
Ahram news
---------------------------------
Protesters have breached the wall of the US embassy in Cairo and torn down a US flag over a US-made film which they say is insulting to the Prophet Muhammad.
The flag, which was flying at half mast to mark the 9/11 attacks, was replaced by an Islamist banner.
Thousands of protesters had gathered outside the embassy.
Among the film's producers is said to be a pastor who burnt copies of the Koran earlier this year.
Among the protesters outside the embassy were hardline Islamists known as Salafists and also members of a football supporters' club known as Ultras.
They say the film is about to be shown in the US.
On Tuesday night, a handful of protesters continued to sit on the wall of the embassy but the compound was surrounded by Egyptian riot police and there was no sign of any confrontation, says the BBC's Jon Leyne at the scene in Cairo.
A spokesman for the US embassy in Cairo has categorically denied that any shots have been fired at any time during the protest.
'Free speech'
The US embassy earlier issued a statement condemning "the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims - as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions".
The statement added: "We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."
The US state department said it was working with Egyptian security to try to restore order at the embassy and to get the situation under control.
Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there were no reports of injuries, adding: "We had some people breach the wall, take the flag down and replace it. What I heard was that it was replaced with a... plain black flag. But I may not be correct in that."
The film which sparked the protest is said to have been produced by US pastor Terry Jones and co-produced by some Egyptian Copt expatriates.
Egyptian protesters condemned what they said was the humiliation of the Prophet of Islam under the pretext of freedom of speech.
BBC
Viva Egypt
