US embassy reiterates Clinton statement on video

The US embassy wishes to reiterate the expressions issued by Secretary Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama regarding the recent inflammatory video that has offended Muslims and others around the world.

It should be noted that the United States strongly rejects both its contents and messages and had nothing to do with the video, the embassy said in a release yesterday.

"The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, the United States believes that religious tolerance is essential to the stability of any nation and of any people.

"Among the Fundamental Rights we also hold closely is the right to peacefully protest. As Secretary Clinton said: 'We also fully reject hatred and violence in the name of religion.'

"The embassy also wishes to thank officials, religious leaders, and community leaders in both Sri Lanka and the Maldives for the many expressions of sympathy and condolences over the losses of our colleagues in Libya and for their calls for calm and restraint."