Australia closes Pakistan mission

Pakistan

Australia closes Pakistan mission

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Staff have also been advised to stay inside today because of security concerns.

21 September,2012 09:32 am

The Australian High Commission in Pakistans capital Islamabad has been closed because of anti-western demonstrations.The Foreign Affairs Department has warned the security situation in Pakistan is volatile, unpredictable and could deteriorate unexpectedly.Tens of thousands of Pakistanis are expected to protest today as global Muslim anger mounts over a US-made anti-Islam film and cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in a French magazine.The government has called an impromptu public holiday - a day of love for the prophet - and has urged people to protest peacefully to show their opposition to the crudely made film Innocence Of Muslims.All major political parties and religious groups have announced protests, as have many trade and transport organisations.Shops, markets and petrol stations will close and transport is likely to come to a standstill, but authorities will hope there is no repeat of the violence seen on the streets of the capital yesterday.Around 5,000 angry protesters, many armed with wooden clubs, battled police near Islamabads heavily guarded diplomatic enclave, demanding access to the US embassy.Police used tear gas and live rounds to disperse the crowd and the chaotic scenes left at least 50 people injured.Dozens of officers were wounded and a police post burnt to the ground before army troops were eventually called in to disperse the protesters, who had breached a wall of shipping containers designed to hold them back.Innocence Of Muslims, produced by US-based extremist Christians, has triggered protests in at least 20 countries since excerpts were posted online, and more than 30 people have been killed in violence linked to the film.