The New Norm In Obama's World: Violence returns to Cairo as police tear gas protesters outside US embassy (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Published: 13 September, 2012, 03:41
Edited: 13 September, 2012, 14:41

Egyptian protesters burn the U.S. flag during a demonstration outside the U.S. embassy in Cairo, as demonstrators gathered to condemn what they said was a film being produced in the United States that insulted Prophet Mohammad, September 12, 2012 (Reuters / Mohamed Abd El Ghany)

Egyptian security forces are firing tear gas at a crowd of angry protesters near the US embassy in Cairo. Some 30 protesters have been injured and 12 arrested, journalists on Twitter quoted the Egyptian Interior Ministry as saying.

Hundreds of protesters are gathering outside the US embassy in Cairo, hurling stones at security personnel, who retaliate by firing tear gas and warning shots at the crowd.

On Wednesday, several hundred protesters rallied in front of the embassy, chanting “leave Egypt” and demanding that the US apologize for an American-made film that mocks Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

Dozens of riot police were then deployed in the area to contain the demonstrators and divert them into side streets. Clashes continued into the night, with protesters throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at police.

Some of the protesters have been injured, state news agency MENA reported, giving no further details. Witnesses reporting the incident on Twitter said as many as several dozen people may have been injured. At least six police officers suffered injuries during the clashes, said Alla Mahmoud, a spokesman for Egypt's Interior Ministry.

The incident comes just a day after some 2,000 demonstrators gathered around the US embassy, while a group of the most conservative protesters tore down the American flag and replaced it with a black banner bearing the traditional Islamic message, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet.”

Four participants in Tuesday's demonstration who had climbed the wall of the embassy were arrested and transferred to the prosecutor's office. Police are still looking for others involved in the incident.

The now-notorious movie caused a wave of protests in the Arab world. On Tuesday, armed militants attacked the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killing the ambassador and three other diplomatic staff.

President Barack Obama strongly condemned the attacks on US ambassadorial premises, pledging that the US would be “relentless” in its pursuit of the attackers. Following the incident, the US military has sent two warships toward the coast of Libya and deployed a team of some 50 Marines to the country to reinforce security at American diplomatic facilities.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi vowed not to tolerate attacks on diplomatic missions, and said that Egyptians reject such unlawful acts, the AP reported.

A protester throws a tear gas canister, which was earlier thrown by riot police, during clashes along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

A protester throws a stone at riot policemen during clashes along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Riot policemen take their positions during clashes with protesters along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Protesters run from tear gas fired by riot police during clashes along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Riot policemen throw stones and tear gas during clashes with protesters along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

A protester throws a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) at riot policemen during clashes along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Riot policemen fire tear gas during clashes with protesters along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

A protester has his eyes doused with milk after tear gas was fired during clashes with riot police along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square in Cairo September 13, 2012. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

A car in flames is seen near graffiti reading in Arabic, “I sacrifice my soul, my father and my mother for the prophet of God”, near the US embassy in Cairo early on September 13, 2012. (AFP Photo/Ahmed Mahmud)

Source: Russia Today