Massive protests in Pakistan against the U.S. film degrading to Muhammad

Thousands of people tried to reach the U.S. embassy but were rejected by the police. The government called to perform morning prayer day, peaceful demonstrations. Thousands of Pakistanis reject the film "The innocence of Muslims" degrading to Prophet Muhammad, clashed with police in the capital Islamabad. Thousands of people tried to get to the U.S. Embassy in a protected area that houses other embassies and government offices. Riot police used tear gas and batons to subdue protesters who threw stones. Some of them were students affiliated with the hardline Islamist Jamaat e Islami. Demonstrations are expected to grow in Pakistan tomorrow, the traditional day of prayer in the Muslim world, so the government declared a national holiday so people can go out and protest peacefully against the film. Pakistani Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, called to mark a national day morning after the Prophet Muhammad. Shops and schools are closed and will interrupt the flow of public and private vehicles, reported the news agency DPA. This decision caused praised by the Pakistani Taliban, who are often at war with the government. A spokesman for the Islamist group said it welcomed the decision, but also believes that the government should expel all U.S. diplomats. Meanwhile, anti-Western protests against the recent days, the U.S. government now discouraged its citizens from traveling to Pakistan, where authorities are increasing security measures at the demonstrations called for tomorrow. The U.S. State Department found that the demonstrations and protests may last longer, so discouraged its citizens from traveling to the country if not essential.