Yemen rejects US Marines at embassy

The Yemeni parliament on Saturday said it rejected the presence of U.S. Marines in Sanaa to boost security at the American embassy against any further protests against a U.S.-made film mocking Islam. In a statement, parliament affirmed its "rejection of any form of foreign presence" in Yemen, saying it was up to the government to provide security for foreign embassies. Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters on Friday the United States has deployed a Marine anti-terrorism unit to Sanaa to help protect the American embassy in the face of angry demonstrations. "This is partly as a response to events over the past two days at our embassy in Yemen but it's also in part a precautionary measure," he said. "A FAST (Fleet Anti terrorism Security Team) platoon is now on the ground in Sanaa," with a contingent of about 50 U.S. Marines, Little said. Four people were killed on Thursday when police and protesters clashed near the embassy in a protest against the film produced privately in the United States and deemed insulting to Islam. On Friday, Yemeni security forces fired warning shots, tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters about 500 meters from the embassy compound who burned the American flag and called for the expulsion of the U.S. ambassador.