US shuts Indonesia consulate amid film protests

MEDAN (AP) - The United States (US) temporarily closed its consulate in Indonesia's third-largest city on Wednesday due to ongoing protests over an anti-Islam film produced in America.

About 300 members of the pan-Islamic movement Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia rallied on Wednesday morning in front of the consulate in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province.

Later, about 50 Muslim students protested, marking the third straight day of demonstrations there. Both groups called on Washington to punish the makers of the film, Innocence Of Muslims, which denigrates the Prophet Muhammad.

The embassy sent a text message to US citizens saying the consulate would be temporarily closed due to the demonstrations.