US warns citizens not to go to Lebanon

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.