By Laila Bassam, BEIRUT (Reuters) – Angry Lebanese demonstrators torched the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday, further escalating a violent turn in protests over the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.Thousands of protesters, some carrying green Islamic flags, chanted "God is Greatest" outside the burning building as thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
Some stood on top of a fire engine, one of three damaged by protesters to prevent fire fighters putting the blaze out. It was not immediately clear if the building was empty. On Saturday furious Syrians had set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus. They also damaged the Swedish embassy and tried to storm the French mission but were held off by riot police.
The Scandinavian countries and the United States condemned Syria for failing to protect the embassies. Lebanese security forces had fired tear gas at a crowd of about 20,000 as they marched towards the Danish consulate. Pls click "READ MORE" to view pictures.
Witnesses said security forces also fired shots in the air and used water cannon to disperse the protesters, who burnt two civil defence vehicles, a police car and an army jeep.
A Reuters witness said several Muslim clerics were on the streets trying to urge restraint and asking protesters to leave the scene of the violence.
The uproar over the cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper and were then reprinted in a number of other European countries, has swept across the Muslim world. One depicted the Prophet Mohammad with a turban resembling a bomb.
Islam forbids any depiction of the Prophet Mohammad.
Chanting "No God but Allah, Mohammad is His Prophet", the protesters threw stones at the security forces. A number of people fainted because of the tear gas.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora condemned the use of violence in the protests.
"This has nothing to do with Islam at all," he told Future television. "Destabilising security and vandalism give a wrong image of Islam. Prophet Mohammad cannot be defended this way."
He said the protesters also attacked cars and shops in the area.
Mohammad Rashid Qabani, Lebanon’s top Sunni Muslim cleric, urged restraint.
"We don’t want the expression of our condemnation (of the cartoons) to be used by some to portray a distorted image of Islam," he said. "Today is a big test for us. Let our expression of condemnation be according to the values of Islam."
A Lebanese Islamist stands outside the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 13 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist waves a flag as a fire engine burns during a demonstration in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. (Adnan Hajj/Reuters)
Reuters – 22 minutes ago
Lebanese firemen extinguish the fire in the Danish consulate in Beirut, Lebanon February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Sharif Karim
Reuters – 31 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist woman holds a banner during a demonstration in front of the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Reuters – 39 minutes ago
Staff of a private Lebanese company occupying the same building, cleaning up on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, trying to save some property and documents which are still intact. Thousands of Syrian demonstrators attacked the Danish embassy in Damascus a day earlier to protest caricatures offensive to Islam’s prophet published months ago in a Danish newspaper. The building houses private Lebanese companies and the embassies of Swede and Chile. Demonstrators burnt the Danish Embassy and later the Norwegian Embassy but were blocked by security forces from doing the same to the French Embassy. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 47 minutes ago
A Lebanese Muslim woman carries a flag as she walks over a Danish flag during a demonstration in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Reuters – 42 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamist demonstrators stand next to a Danish flag painted on the main road to the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Reuters – 43 minutes ago
A Lebanese sheikh (2nd L) and demonstrators gesture after fire was set in the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 0 minute ago
Lebanese Islamist demonstrators chant slogans after setting fire in the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist demonstrator flashes a victory sign after setting fire to the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist chants slogans after lighting a fire inside the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamist demonstrators gather in front of the Danish consulate after setting fire to it in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
A Lebanese sheikh tries to calm demonstrators after fire was set to the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 21 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists attack a police vehicle in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist waves a flag in front of the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
A Lebanese army jeep burns during a demonstration by Islamists in front of the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist throws a stone at soldiers during a demonstration in front of the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists attack an army jeep and take weapons from it during a protest in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists tear a Danish flag in front of the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists attack a police vehicle in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists chant slogans after burning the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists attack a fire engine during a protest in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry demonstrators set the Danish consulate in Beirut ablaze on Sunday and the violent turn in protests over publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad drew condemnation from European capitals and moderate Muslims. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
Staff of a private Lebanese company which share the building trying to rescue property and documents which are still intact Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006 after Syrian demonstrators attacked the Danish embassy in Damascus a day earlier to protest caricatures offensive to Islam’s prophet published months ago in a Danish newspaper. The building houses a private Lebanese company and the embassies of Sweden and Chile. Demonstrators burnt the Danish Embassy and later the Norwegian Embassy but were blocked by security forces from doing the same to the French Embassy. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
Lebanese Islamists attack the Danish consulate in Beirut February 5,2006. Angry Lebanese demonstrators torched the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday,further escalating a violent turn in protests over the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – Feb 05 4:24 AM
Lebanese Islamist chants slogan inside the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5,2006. Angry Lebanese demonstrators torched the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday,further escalating a violent turn in protests over the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – Feb 05 4:24 AM
Lebanese Islamists chant slogan and wave flags outside the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5,2006. Angry Lebanese demonstrators torched the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday,further escalating a violent turn in protests over the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 59 minutes ago
A Lebanese Islamist waves a flag in front of the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
Reuters – Feb 05 4:00 AM
A Lebanese Islamist chants slogans in front of the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – Feb 05 3:59 AM
Lebanese Islamists gather in front of the burning Danish consulate in Beirut February 5, 2006. Angry Lebanese demonstrators torched the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday, further escalating a violent turn in protests over the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – Feb 05 3:32 AM
File photo shows a Palestinian veiled woman from Hamas carrying her daughter, who holds up a Koran during a demonstration
Staff of a private Lebanese company clean up in the building of the Danish embassy in Damascus Syria on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006 Syrian demonstrators attacked the Danish embassy in Damascus a day earlier to protest caricatures offensive to Islam’s prophet published months ago in a Danish newspaper. The building houses private Lebanese companies and the embassies of Sweden and Chile. Demonstrators burnt the Danish Embassy and later the Norwegian Embassy but were blocked by security forces from doing the same to the French Embassy. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – Feb 05 3:13 AM
File photo shows Palestinian from Hamas 
