Attack on U.S. Embassy in Tunisia Kills Four

Four people were killed and almost 50 injured in an attack on the U.S. embassy in the Tunisian capital on Friday by protesters angry over an anti-Islam film, the health ministry said.

"Three protesters were shot dead, the fourth was hit by a car and 49 people were injured, including nine seriously," a spokesman for the ministry told Agence France Presse on Saturday.

More than 20 police officers were among those hurt, said the spokesman, updating the toll the ministry had given the previous day of two dead and 40 injured.

Violent clashes broke out on Friday between security forces and protesters, most of them appearing to be Salafist Islamists, who were protesting over the anti-Islam film produced in the United States.

Some of the protesters hurled petrol bombs and then stormed the sprawling U.S. embassy complex in Tunis before police fired live rounds and tear gas to drive them away.