Angry Lebanese demonstrators torched the Danish consulate in Beirut on Sunday, further escalating a violent turn in protests over the publication by European newspapers of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Thousands of protesters, some carrying green Islamic flags, chanted "God is Greatest" outside the burning building as thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
Some stood on top of a fire engine, one of three damaged by protesters to prevent fire fighters putting the blaze out.
It was not immediately clear if the building was empty.
On Saturday furious Syrians had set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus. They also damaged the Swedish embassy and tried to storm the French mission but were held off by riot police.
Associated Press adds this (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060205/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_prophet_drawings):
The trouble in Lebanon threatened to take a sectarian spin as protesters stoned the nearby St. Maroun Church, one of the city's main Maronite Catholic churches, and private property in Ashrafieh, a Christian area near Beirut's commercial district.
Video at BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4682560.stm
David Warren: "The Rage" http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-2_5_06_DW.html
Austin Bay: It's not a row. It's a war. http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=885
Instapundit's Glenn and Helen podcast is up: Timely and excellent as usual. Guests are Austin Bay, Jim Dunnigan of StrategyPage and milblogger Michael Yon. Must-listen.
Podcasts: http://instapundit.com/archives/028422.php http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2006/02/podcast-on-military-oil-and-priceless.html
The Small Wars Journal has a comprehensive repository of news links and background on the escalating war. http://www.smallwarsjournal.com/news/imageproblem.htm