Afghanistan’s leader has put off a foreign trip for fear of violence at home over an anti-Islam film, officials said on Thursday, as anxious governments across Asia stepped up security outside US embassies.
The heightened measures came after Washington’s ambassador to Libya was killed during a mob attack in the city of Benghazi on Tuesday, and after anti-US protests in Egypt’s capital Cairo.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, joined Afghanistan in demanding that YouTube block the crudely made film that has triggered the protests with its mocking portrayal of the Prophet Mohammed.
Indonesian authorities are also working with internet service providers to block access to the film, Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto said.
“The film certainly is offensive... and has upset Indonesian Muslims. We don’t wish for anyone to be provoked by it and for violence to break out here,” he said.
So far, there has been no trouble in Indonesia, where most of the 240 million population practise a moderate form of Islam.