US embassy shut due to protest fears

The US embassy in New Delhi was shut today with employees being asked to stay on in the premises due to the risk of protests over an anti-Islam film, PTI reported citing embassy sources.

The report added, quoting an official who requested anonymity, that the decision to close the embassy was taken by authorities to prevent any "untoward incident" near the highly guarded premises in the diplomatic quarter of the capital.

The embassy school was also closed for the day with US citizens travelling in India, home to the world's third-biggest Muslim population, being urged to exercise caution and monitor the local media for security updates.

Police in Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir fired tear gas at protesters today who defied an unofficial curfew in the main city of Srinagar, where angry demonstrations are common after Friday prayers.

Protests erupted in Kashmir last Friday and police in the southern Indian city of Chennai detained 86 protesters who attacked the US consulate, as they smashed windows and security cameras.

By mid-afternoon today, no reports had been received of demonstrations in New Delhi or elsewhere in India.