Protests across Kashmir against anti-Islam film

The anti-Islam that sparked deadly violence in the Muslim world has now stirred up protests across the state of Kashmir.

The controversial movie called "Innocence of Muslims" was produced by anti-Islam campaigners in the US, portraying Prophet Muhammad in bad light.

Reports said protests were held after Friday prayers outside many mosques and shrines in the Valley.

Hundreds of protesters have taken took to streets in Maisuma, Budshah chowk, Court Road, Lal Chowk and Jamia Masjid areas to protest against the blasphemous video.

A senior Islamic cleric in Kashmir, meanwhile, has told all US citizens to "immediately leave" the region because of the anti-Islam film.

"US citizens visiting Kashmir should leave immediately as the sentiments of the Muslims have been hurt by these pictures," the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Bashiruddin Ahmad said, according to the Press Trust of India.

"Everyone accepts the greatness of the Prophet and any attempt to malign his image will not be tolerated," the news agency quoted him as saying.

India on Friday joined other countries in blocking the controversial YouTube film trailer that denigrates Prophet Muhammad. The trailer, which was not accessible through most ISPs, by Thursday had 1.3 million views on YouTube.

"We do, at times, block content in launched countries in response to a court order or other valid legal process," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying to a news channel.

YouTube had offered to "temporarily" restrict access to the film in Libya and Egypt. Pakistan and Afghanistan have already blocked access to the movie

Earlier, protesters stormed the US consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi in Libya, killing US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Several US embassies in the Middle East have also come under attack.

All of the US' diplomatic missions overseas were on high alert Friday.

India has also issued an alert to security forces deployed outside US diplomatic missions. "We have ordered security officers to be vigilant, to prevent any untoward actions taking place," Home Ministry spokesman Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia said.

"It goes without saying that we are obviously concerned about all internal and international implications in case something happens. So we are taking extra precautions, it is a pre-emptive effort," he said.

Meanwhile, authorities have identified a Coptic Christian, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, from Southern California as the key figure behind the anti-Muslim film.

Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who promised to burn the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 in 2010, has reportedly backed the film.