Embassies ablaze as Muslim anger spreads | Autonomy & Solidarity

Embassies ablaze as Muslim anger spreads | Autonomy & Solidarity: "Embassies ablaze as Muslim anger spreads
Submitted by FDL on February 4, 2006 - 9:24pm. A&S News Wire | Culture
Jamie Doward, Mark Townsend, Bartle Bull in Damascus and Gaby Hinsliff Sunday February 5, 2006. The Observer

The increasingly bitter row over the publication of a series of controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad reached a new intensity last night as protesters set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Syria.

With police signalling that they will launch an investigation into the behaviour of protesters in London who called for those insulting Islam to 'be beheaded', protesters in the Syrian capital, Damascus, defied tear gas and water cannon to enter the Danish embassy and replace that country's flag with another which read: 'No God but Allah, Mohammad is His Prophet.'

Last night the Danish embassy, which was empty when attacked, was a charred hulk. The Norwegian embassy was still burning. As well as the dramatic scenes in Damascus - not known for its Islamic militancy - rising tensions among Muslims over the publication of 'blasphemous' cartoons in Denmark threatened to boil over across the globe.

· In London, 700 Muslims held a second day of angry protests outside the Danish embassy, many holding placards glorifying the events of 7 July and 9/11.

· Metropolitan police sources told The Observer that arrests could follow this week after investigations of the behaviour on Friday of some protesters who demanded the 'massacre' of 'those who insult Islam'. They may have breached laws against inciting hatred or terrorism.

· Groups representing British Muslims appealed for calm, saying the demonstrations and violence had gone too far"