Protest in Tunisia over film ridiculing Islam

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Police fired tear gas to disperse about 300 protesters who burned American flags outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia's capital Wednesday, part of widespread anger across the Muslim world about a film ridiculing Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

In Libya, the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed when a mob of protesters and gunmen angry about the film overwhelmed the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.

An Associated Press photographer saw demonstrators burning and trampling a number of American flags in Tunis. Some 50 protesters were initially kept back from the embassy by reinforced security. But police moved in, firing tear gas when the number of protesters multiplied and the atmosphere grew tense.

Protesters shouted "Death to America," and some tried to force their way inside the embassy compound. One officer hit in the head by a stone was hospitalized, police said. A small number of women wearing the Islamic niqab, or full-face veil, were among the demonstrators.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki cut short a visit to neighboring Libya for security reasons.