Chennai:
In
the wake of continuous protests in the city over the controversial anti-Islamic
film in United States, American consulate here has closed down its visa section
and library for two days.
A
US spokesman told Express on Monday that the visa section will be closed for
appointments on Monday and Tuesday and emergency services will be offered to
American citizens.
“We
have notified all the applicants through phone and SMS. Persons with
appointments are being notified for rescheduling dates,” he said. Around 1,000
applicants visit the consulate every day.
Similarly,
the American Library will remain closed on both these days. Earlier, the
consulate has issued a travel advisory asking its citizens traveling in and
around Chennai to exercise caution and monitor local media for security updates.
The
decision to close the visa section was taken on Sunday. It comes in the wake of
security of the US consulate being breached on Friday when a mob attacked the
premises and pelted stones.
To
a query on whether the US consulate has expressed its concern to the state
government over the breach of security, the spokesman refused to comment.
Meanwhile,
anti-US protests over the controversial film continued for the third day with
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi activists staging a demonstration at Government House.
Similarly two other protests by Muslim outfits were held at Mount Road and Royapettah.
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