The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon released
a statement Monday urging citizens not
to go Lebanon over the threat of demonstrations against a film insulting the
Prophet Mohammad.
“The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon is
concerned about the continued threat of demonstrations, and other violent
actions against U.S. interests in Lebanon,” the mission said.
These fears come after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan
Nasrallah called Monday for a series of protests starting with a demonstration
in Beirut’s southern suburbs at 5 p.m. against the film which he described as
“very dangerous and unprecedented.”
"U.S. citizens are also reminded
that demonstrations and riots can occur with little or no warning. Demonstrations
intended to be peaceful can escalate into violent clashes,” it added.
Waves of protests swept the Muslim world leading to the death U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, was killed last week in an attack on the consulate in Benghazi. Protests also erupted in Lebanon with one person killed in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli on Friday
in protests against the film which depicts the prophet as a womanizer
and homosexual.
Consequently, the US Embassy in Awkar,
bolstered its security measures.
On Sunday, the Lebanese Army and
police boosted their numbers at several points along the road leading to the
embassy, deploying special units from the military and Internal Security Forces.
Other protests will take place this
week in the coastal city of Sidon, Bint Jbeil in the south as well as Baalbek
and the Hermel in the east.