PETER BAKER,DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK & ALAN COWELL The Obama administration suspects that the fiery attack in Libya that killed the US ambassador and three other diplomats may have been planned rather than a spontaneous mob getting out of control,US officials said Wednesday. Officials in Washington studying the events of the past 24 hours have focused on the differences between the protests on the American embassy in Cairo and the attack on the consulate in Benghazi,the Libyan city where Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and the other Americans were killed. The protesters in Cairo appeared to be a genuinely spontaneous unarmed mob angered by an anti-Islam video. By contrast,it appeared the attackers in Benghazi were armed with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. President Obama strongly condemned the killings and ordered increased security at American diplomatic posts around the world. American defence officials said 50 Marines were en route to Libya to strengthen security at US diplomatic facilities,and the State Department ordered all nonemergency personnel out of the country and warned Americans not to go there,suggesting that further attacks were possible. The death of Stevens late Tuesday,the anniversary of the September 11,2001 attacks,was the first of an US envoy abroad in more than three decades. In line of fire Five US ambassadors have been killed by terrorists: Adolph Dubs,in Afghanistan,1979 Francis E. Meloy Jr.,in Lebanon,1976 Rodger P. Davies,in Cyprus,1974 Cleo A. Noel Jr.,in Sudan,1973 John Gordon Mein,in Guatemala,1968 Ambassadors killed in plane crashes: Arnold L. Raphel,in Pakistan,1988 Laurence A. Steinhardt,in Canada,1950 Friend of new Libya Christopher Stevens assumed his ambassador post in May after having served as an envoy to the Libyan rebels who overthrew Colonel Gaddafi. He was widely admired by the Libyan rebels for his support of their struggle,and others who knew Stevens described him as an extraordinarily talented and insightful diplomat. Obama on Wednesday called Stevens a courageous and exemplary representative of the US who had selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi and,as ambassador,supported Libyas transition to democracy. On arriving in Libya,Stevens had written that the whole atmosphere has changed for the better. People smile more and are much more open with foreigners. Americans,French and British are enjoying unusual popularity. Lets hope it lasts! All in all,its great to be back, he wrote,especially in the new Libya, as people here are saying. [ Attack aftermath Libya apologises for attack DUBAI: The Libyan interim President Mohammed el-Megarif said Wednesday,We extend our apology to America,the American people and the whole world. UK film on Islams origin sparks row London: A documentary on Britains Channel 4 on the origins of Islam has sparked off a furious row,leading to over 1,000 complaints and security fears that prompted the cancellation of a repeat screening on Thursday. The documentary,titled Islam: The Untold Story,was telecast on Channel 4 on August 28. Its presenter,historian Tom Holland,soon became the target of criticism and abuse,prompting security fears. Protests across Muslim world TUNIS: Tunisian police fired teargas on Wednesday to disperse a protest over the film depicting the Prophet. The low-budget film sparked protests in Palestinian and other Islamic states as well. Taliban call on Afghans to take revenge KABUL: The Taliban called on Afghans on Wednesday to prepare for a fight against Americans and urged insurgents to take revenge on US soldiers over the film depicting the Prophet. Israel distances self from film JERUSALEM: Israel sought to distance itself from the director behind the film on the Prophet. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Wednesday the film has nothing to do whatsoever with Israel. Afghans ban YouTube to stop viewing KABUL: Afghanistan banned the YouTube site on Wednesday so Afghans would not be able to watch a US-made film on the Prophet that has sparked protests in Egypt and Libya,the Ministry of Communications said. Assault on US mission in Cairo: 4 held CAIRO: Egypt has arrested four people for breaching the US embassy in Cairo during a demonstration over the film that was deemed insulting to the Prophet. Agencies Insult to injury: Previous incidents of violence PROPHET CARTOONS A 2005 publication by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten of cartoons depicting the Prophet unleashed a wave of protests. Attacks were reported against Danish missions in Syria,Iran,Afghanistan and Lebanon. Six people were killed in a June 2008 suicide bombing at the Danish embassy in Islamabad. VAN GOGH ASSASSINATION Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh,whose film Submission criticised the treatment of Muslim women,was shot dead in November 2004 as he bicycled in Amsterdam. A 26-year-old Dutch citizen of Moroccan origin,Mohammed Bouyeri,was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life. Van Goghs assassination set off a wave of more than 170 small reprisal attacks against mosques and churches over the following weeks. TERRY JONES REMARKS In 2010 a Florida preacher Terry Jones called for burning of Qurans on the anniversary of 9 Thousands of Afghans set fire to tires in the streets of Kabul. Joness congregation went ahead with a Quran burning in March 2011,triggering protests across Afghanistan. In the most violent protest,hundreds of protesters stormed a UN compound in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan,killing seven foreigners. Jones said he had promoted Innocence of Muslims. SATANIC VERSES Author Salman Rushdies 1988 novel Satanic Verses,inspired in part by the life of the Prophet,prompted outrage among many Muslims. Riots erupted in Islamabad and Mumbai and the book was banned in South Africa,India,Pakistan,Bangladesh and other countries. Irans Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a religious edict in 1989 calling for Rushdies death,forcing the writer to live in hiding. His Japanese translator was stabbed to death in 1991 and his Italian translator was injured in a stabbing that same year. BAGRAM QURAN BURNING In February,US soldiers at Bagram prison in Afghanistan burned 315 copies of the Qurans and other religious materials that had been taken from Bagram. Word of the burning triggered scores of anti-American protests across the country which left more than 30 Afghans and six US soldiers dead. AP
