2,000 Muslims protest in Sri Lanka, demanding US punish creators of anti-Islam film

Associated Press, The Associated Press

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan Muslims have burnt effigies of President Barack Obama and American flags at a protest demanding the United States ban the film "Innocence of Muslims."

About 2,000 protesters carried signs and banners near the U.S. Embassy in the capital Colombo after Friday prayers. It took place after the embassy's normal closing time of noon on Fridays.

A protest organizer, Mujibur Rahman, said Muslims in Sri Lanka "have come to the streets today to join with Muslims all over the world" to protest against the film's insults to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

He threatened to continue protests if the "U.S. fails to ban this film and arrest its creators." American leaders have denounced the film, but U.S. free speech rights mean it is not a crime there.