US sends Marines to Yemen to protect embassy during protests

Washington has sent Marines to Yemen to help protect its embassy during anti-American protests sparked by an anti-Islam film produced in the US, the Pentagon said.

“A FAST platoon is now on the ground in Sana’a,” spokesman George Little told reporters on Friday, describing the deployment of the 100-strong unit as a “precautionary step” amid anti-American unrest in the Middle East.

Little said there were no immediate plans to evacuate the Yemen embassy, but that security would be stepped up.