Egyptians angry at anti-Islam film scale US embassy walls

Egyptian protesters scaled the walls of the US embassy on Tuesday, tore down the American flag and burned it during a protest over what they said was a film being produced in the United States that insulted Prophet Mohammad.

In place of the US flag, the protesters tried to raise a black flag with the words There is no God but God, and Mohammad is his messenger, a Reuters witness said.

Once the US flag was hauled down, some protesters tore it up and showed off pieces to television cameras. Others burned the remains outside the fortress-like embassy building in central Cairo. But some protesters objected to the flag burning.

Many Muslims consider any depiction of the Prophet to be offensive.

This movie must be banned immediately and an apology should be made, said 19-year-old Ismail Mahmoud, a member of the so-called ultras soccer supporters who played a big role in the uprising that brought down Hosni Mubarak last year.

He called on President Mohamed Mursi, Egypt's first civilian president and an Islamist, to take action, without giving details of the film that angered him or other protesters.

About 20 people stood on top of the embassy wall, while about 2,000 protesters gathered outside. The demonstrators were mainly supporters of Islamist groups or ultras youths.

Rafik Farouk, 38, an Egyptian Christian, also took part. I am here because I am Egyptian and reject anything that insults Islam or anything that sparks division in Egypt, he said.

Washington has a big mission in Egypt, partly because of a huge aid programme that followed Egypt's signing of a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. The United States gives $1.3 billion to Egypt's military each year and offers the nation other aid.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland in Washington said the wall was breached and the flag removed.

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