LOS ANGELES: Google said that it would not block a clip posted on its YouTube subsidiary of an anti-Islam film that mocks Islam's Prophet Mohamed after violence has erupted at United States missions in Libya, Egypt and on Thursday morning, Yemen. However, the company did say it was blocking access to the short 13-minute clip of the Israeli-American made anti-Islam film in Egypt and Libya. The film clip shows the Prophet as being a fraud, participating in child sexual crimes and alleges he could have been a homosexual. The clip is extremely insulting to Islam and the protests have demanded the US take action against filmmaker Sam Bacile, who is currently in hiding in California. On Tuesday in Egypt, protesters climbed the US Embassy's wall and took down the American flag, replacing it with an Islamic flag that read: “There is no God but God and Mohamed is His Messenger." While the Egyptian protesters remained nonviolent, in Libya's Benghazi, violent attacks took place against the American consulate in the city, which left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American staffers dead. Google said it was attempting to balance freedom of speech with legal and ethical concerns. In a statement released on Wednesday, Google rejected the idea of removing the video, arguing that it did not violate YouTube's policies. “This video – which is widely available on the Web – is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube,” Google said in the statement. “However, given the very difficult situation in Libya and Egypt, we have temporarily restricted access in both countries.” The company added: “Our hearts are with the families of the people murdered in yesterday's attack in Libya.”
