Innocence of Muslims Protests: US Tells Citizens to Stay out of Pakistan after Fresh Rallies

The US has advised citizens to stay away from Pakistan as a fresh wave of violent protests over the anti-Islam movie Innocence of Muslims erupted in the capital Islamabad.

The State Department warned Americans to avoid non-essential travel to Pakistan after city authorities called in the army to disperse hundreds of angry demonstrators trying to smash through to the US embassy.

About 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside the gates of the enclave housing the US and several other countries' diplomatic missions.

Protesters burned US flags and threw stones at police who had tried to blockade the area with shipping containers.

As demonstrators approached, security forces used teargas and batons to keep them away.

"Our policemen are not any better than the Americans because they are trying to stop us," a protester told Reuters.

With poliuce struggling to regain control the government called in army troops.

However, demonstrators started to disperse peacefully before military forces arrived, the BBC reported.

Bigger protests are expected after Friday prayers. The Pakistani government has called a national holiday to allow people to participate in peaceful demonstrations.

Its decision was praised by the Taliban, which also asked authorities to expel all American diplomats from Pakistan.

Smaller rallies have taken place in Indonesia, Iran and Afghanistan.

Directed by Christian Coptic director Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the amateur movie Innocence of Muslims has triggered a week of outrage across the Muslim world.

The movie mocks the Prophet Mohammed. Following its release Nakoula was taken in by police in California, where he lives, for questioning.

Nakoula has since gone into hiding, although the Egyptian government has issued a warrant for his arrest. Iran has also said it will hunt him down.

One actress who appears in the movie has said she will sue Nakoula, who allegedly deceived her making her believe she was shooting a desert adventure movie.

According to Cindy Lee Garcia, the script made no mention of the Mohammad nor made references to religion.

Meanwhile, Paris-based satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has published cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed in its latest issue.

The French government warned that the cartoons, which depict Mohammed naked and in a wheelchair, might trigger a new wave of protests in Muslim countries and shut 20 of its embassies as a precaution.