This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.Violent protests spread across the Arab Worldand other areas Friday over a private videoproduced in the United States.Crowds targeted American and western embassiesas opposition to the film continued to grow.Three days earlier, armed militantskilled the American ambassador to Libyaand three other Americans in an attack in Benghazi, Libya.The low budget film "The Innocence of Muslims"makes fun of Islam.It shows the Prophet Mohammed as a womanizer and a terrorist.The video reportedly was made in California.It remains unclear who made the video.Some news organizations have linked the filmto a fifty-five year old Egyptian Coptic Christianwho lives in California.They say he recently served a prison sentencefor illegal financial activities.The suspected director of the film spoke with Radio Sawa.He said any claim of government involvementin the making of the movie is funny,and that America has nothing to do with the film.He also criticized the protesters.He said Arabs "have to learn to demonstrate peacefullyagainst the issues on which we disagree."He also said he was saddened by the deaths,but he did not regret making the film."The Innocence of Muslims" was publicizedby American clergyman Terry Jones.In recent years, his actions against the Quran,Islam's holy book, incited violence in Afghanistan.The protests against the film began Tuesdayon the eleventh anniversary of the Two Thousand Oneterror attacks on the United States.In Cairo, the demonstrations began peacefully,until a few protesters broke through the American embassy wallsand replaced the American flag with a Muslim one.Later Tuesday, a crowd attacked the American consulatein Benghazi, killing the four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.There were reports that the attack was well plannedsince it took place on September eleventh.The Obama administration has not commented on these reports.However, intelligence officials have investigatedthe possible involvement of al-Qaida in the film.But they say there is not much evidence to support this idea.On Wednesday, President Obamacondemned the attacks on the American embassies.PRESIDENT OBAMA: "We reject all effortsto denigrate the religious beliefs of others.But there is absolutely no justificationto this type of senseless violence. None.The world must stand togetherto unequivocally reject these brutal acts."Chris Stevens had served as America's ambassador to Libya since May.He had served as America's representative to the countryduring the revolution against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.He recorded this message earlier this year.CHRIS STEVENS: "A Salaam Alaikum, my name is Chris Stevens,and I'm the new US Ambassador to Libya.I had the honor to serve as the US envoyto the Libyan opposition during the revolution.And I was thrilled to watch the Libyan people stand upand demand their rights.Now, I'm excited to return to Libyato continue the great work we've started.Building a solid partnership between the United States..."Ambassador Stevens was said to be popular in Libya.In the nineteen eighties,he taught English in Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer.And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.Go to 51voa.com for more...