PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Nineteen people are dead after riots in Pakistan Friday over an anti-Muslim film.
Thousands angered by the film ignored pleas for peaceful rallies and rampaged in several Pakistani cities in battles with police.
The violence touched off criticism of the government's decision to declare Friday a national holiday to proclaim devotion for the Prophet Muhammad.
The film, which was produced in the United States and denigrates the prophet, has outraged many in the Muslim world in the 10 days since it attracted attention on the Internet.
There were new, mostly peaceful protests in a half-dozen countries from Asia to the Middle East.
Analysts accuse the Pakistani government of pandering to -- calling it a "Day of Love for the Prophet." Critics say the move helped unleash the worst violence yet caused by the film, titled "Innocence of Muslims."
Forty-nine people, including the U.S ambassador to Libya, have died in violence linked to the film around the world.
%@AP Links
255-a-09-(Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, at joint appearance with Tunisian foreign minister)-"at diplomatic posts"-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says protecting Americans during the protests is a high priority. (21 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *255 (09/21/12)>> 00:09 "at diplomatic posts"
253-c-16-(Sebastian Abbot, AP correspondent)-"to detonate bombs"-AP correspondent Sebastian Abbot reports Pakistan declared Friday to be a national 'Love for the Prophet Day.' (21 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *253 (09/21/12)>> 00:16 "to detonate bombs"
254-a-11-(Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, at joint appearance with Tunisian foreign minister)-"of our people"-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. continues to watch the protests across Asia and the Mideast. ((refers to Friday as 'today')) (21 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *254 (09/21/12)>> 00:11 "of our people"
APPHOTO XMM112: A plain clothed Pakistani police officer fires a tear gas canister to disperse protesters, not shown, during clashes in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Sept 21, 2012. during clashes that erupted as the demonstrators tried to approach the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Demonstrations turned violent in several Pakistani cities and over a dozen people were killed as tens of thousands protested against an amateurish anti-Muslim film produced in the United States and vulgar caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in a French satirical weekly around the country after the government encouraged peaceful protests and declared a national holiday — "Love for the Prophet Day." (AP Photo/Fareed Khan) (21 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO XMM112 (09/21/12)>>
APPHOTO ANJ117: A Pakistani protester reacts to tear gas during clashes that erupted as the demonstrators tried to approach the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012. Over a dozen people were killed as tens of thousands protested against an amateurish anti-Muslim film produced in the United States and vulgar caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in a French satirical weekly around the country after the government encouraged peaceful protests and declared a national holiday — "Love for the Prophet Day." (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (21 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO ANJ117 (09/21/12)>>
APPHOTO ISL111: Protesters torch a cinema in Peshawar, Pakistan on Friday, Sept 21, 2012. Tens of thousands protested around the country against an anti-Muslim film after the government encouraged peaceful protests and declared a national holiday ? "Love for the Prophet Day." Demonstrations turned violent and over a dozen people were killed, including a driver for a Pakistani television station, who died after police opened fire on rioters torching a cinema in the northwest city of Peshawar. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad) (21 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO ISL111 (09/21/12)>>
