Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the turmoil raging across the Muslim world is likely to continue into the days ahead.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
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But he also says the violence appears to be leveling off.

He says the Pentagon has deployed forces to a number of areas as the military prepares to protect U.S. personnel and property that could be threatened by the protests. He declined to provide more details.

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Protests by furious Muslims erupted in countries around the world in recent days, with some spawning violence and even deaths over an anti-Islam video filmed in California that denigrates the Prophet Muhammad.

Panetta spoke to reporters on Sunday as he flew to Japan for meetings and to visit with U.S. troops.

French police reinforce security around US Embassy

Police say they are reinforcing security around the American Embassy in Paris today, a day after hundreds of people gathered outside the building to protest a film produced in the United States that insults the Prophet Muhammad.

Police say more uniformed and plain clothes officers have been put in place on the streets surrounding the embassy.

Officials say 150 people were detained yesterday and had their ID's checked because the protest was unauthorized. One person remains in custody for roughing up an officer.

The demonstration was part of a wave of protests outside U.S. diplomatic posts around the world, some of which have turned violent. The U.S. Ambassador to Libya died in a protest in Benghazi, while protesters have also stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tunis.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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