Egyptian protesters scale U.S. Embassy wall

CAIRO — Egyptian protesters, largely ultra conservative Islamists, have climbed the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, made their way into the courtyard and brought down the flag. They then replaced it with a black flag with an Islamic inscription to protest a film deemed offensive to Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

Hundreds protested outside the embassy Tuesday against the film. Egyptian media say the movie was recently produced in the United States. The film, clips of which are available on the social website YouTube, show the prophet having sex and question his role as the messenger of God’s words.

The dozens of protesters who climbed the embassy wall tried to tear the American flag apart after failing to burn it. Embassy officials said there was no staff inside at the time.