Pakistani police forcibly stops protesters from reaching the U.S consulate in Peshawar

Protesters chanting anti-U.S. slogans seen burning the American flag gathered outside the U.S mission in the city of Peshawar to vent their fury at the “Innocence of Muslims” film, which was made in America and disrespects the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Riot police with armored vehicles were deployed to block access to the consulate in Peshawar, the main city in the restive northwestern province.

“We used tear gas shells and lobbed gas grenades because the protesters were trying to come closer to the sensitive area,” police said.

According to reports more than 1,000 policemen were on hand to block the road leading to the U.S consulate.

Addressing the crowd, local leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Shabbir, Ahmed lashed out at the United States, demanding the Pakistani government to expel the American ambassador and to close all U.S. missions in Pakistan.

“We are ready to sacrifice our lives to uphold the dignity of our Prophet,” he exclaimed.

In the eastern city of Lahore, hundreds of people demonstrated near the US consulate, chanting “Death to the USA”.

In Pakistan, two protesters died after demonstrating against the film in the northwest region of the country, close to the Afghan border, and outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi.

Pakistan also blocked access to YouTube, following the video-sharing website’s failure to take down the anti-Islam film.

Some other sites containing the blasphemous video were also banned in Pakistan.