Maria’s Note: Libya consulate attack, organized?

First reports suggested that the main reason for the attack to the American consulate in Benghazi was the offenses against the prophet Muhammad contained in the amateur and nonsensical film “Innocence of Muslims”. However, Obama’s government has indicated that the assault may have been organized and planned in advance by a militant Islamist group, contradicting the initial version of the Libyan government. The circumstances, under which the American ambassador died during the assault, remain still unclear. 

Protests in Yemen over the same movie are taking place around the American embassy in Sanaa. As reported by AFP, the group of protesters is facing security forces, which are using water cannons and warning shots to retain them away from the building. 

In Cairo, protests against the movie turned violent last night. According to MENA news service, sixteen people have been injured and two Central Security vehicles were set on fire.

President Morsi called on the Egyptian embassy in the US to condemn and take actions against the film. In addition to this, the Muslim Brotherhood is organizing a demonstration for next Friday in condemnation of the film.

As a reaction to the incidents, the American Defense Department has deployed two Marine antiterrorism security teams to Libya. Besides this, the FBI is investigating the responsible for the death of the four American victims. During his speech in the White House on Wednesday morning, President Barack Obama guaranteed that “justice will be done” and he vowed the continuation of the good relations between both countries saying, “this attack will not break the bonds between the United States and Libya.

Interestingly, in an interview with Telemundo last Wednesday, Obama stated about Egypt: “I don’t think that we would consider them an ally, but we don’t consider them an enemy”. After all, the relation between both countries might be at stake.