Yemen Protesters Storm US Embassy Compound

Anti-American protests sparked by an anti-Islam film have spread to a third country, with protesters forcing their way into the compound of the US Embassy in Yemen today, the AP reports. The demonstrators brought down the American flag and burned it but did not enter the embassy building. They also smashed windows of the embassy security office and burned at least five cars. "We can see a fire inside the compound and security forces are firing in the air," a witness tells Reuters. "The demonstrators are fleeing and then charging back."

Embassy workers are being moved to a safer location and Yemeni security forces have regained control, tweeted Yemen's spokesman in Washington, DC. Witnesses tell Reuters that Yemeni security forces did nothing to stop protesters as they marched on the embassy, but eventually police reinforcements showed up, and used tear gas, batons, and even water cannons on demonstrators. The initial march included "several thousand" people, CNN reports, but their numbers have dwindled to only a few hundred. At least 15 people have been wounded, including some by bullets, but initial reports indicate that none are embassy staffers. (More US Embassy stories.)