Anti-Islam video protests spread to India

WASHINGTON, USA: With anti-US protests over an anti-Islam video spreading to 11 nations, Washington braced for a growing furore threatening US interests abroad and at home ahead of Friday, the traditional Muslim day of prayers.

Amid continuing protests over the US made film, 'Innocence of Muslims', ridiculing Prophet Mohammad, the US Department of Homeland Security and FBI warned on Thursday that the outrage, and dangers to Americans could worsen in the coming days.

"The risk of violence could increase both at home and abroad as the film continues to gain attention," the US agencies said in a joint intelligence bulletin.

"Additionally, we judge that violent extremist groups in the United States could exploit anger over the film to advance their recruitment efforts."

Posted in July on YouTube, it got more notice recently after Egyptian television aired segments and anti-Islam activists promoted it online.

According to a FBI/Homeland Security joint statement cited by CNN, the film's producer identified himself to news media as an Israeli - an assertion Israel's government denies - and falsely claimed the movie was financed with help from more than 100 Jewish donors.

While he'd been identified in July 2011 by various names, including Sam Bacile, federal officials cited by CNN said they believe the filmmaker's name is Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. He was convicted in 2009 of bank fraud, with the indictment from the US Attorney's Office listing seven aliases.

CNN reported various protests from Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Gaza City, Israel, Iran and Iraq. However, so far, the violence has not spread to Afghanistan.

Protests Spread to India

Dozens of Kashmiri protestors raised anti-US slogans against the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims" after Friday prayers at several places in Srinagar in the afternoon.

Protests were held in Nowhatta, Maisuma, Hazratbal, Alamgiri Bazaar, Abi Guzar, Sarai Bala and some other places in Srinagar. Protestors also torched the US flag at some places in the city.

The state government has asked the union telecommunication ministry to block the blasphemous video on YouTube, stating that its carriage is likely to create law and order problems in Jammu and Kashmir, state Home Commissioner B.R. Sharma told IANS.

All senior separatist leaders - among them Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Nayeem Khan - were placed under house arrest by the authorities as a preventive measure.