Greek police pushed back angry Muslim youths with pepper spray and teargas yesterday to end a protest against a film which Muslims view as offensive to the Prophet Mohammad film.

After scuffling with police earlier in the day the youths regrouped in Omonia square to hold a mass prayer.

They started to shout angry slogans and throw rubbish and stones at the police as they tried to move them off the square. The police fired pepper spray and pushed them with riot shields.

As they dispersed through the streets some demonstrators smashed cars and shop windows.

It was the first time that Muslims in Greece held a protest against the film calling on the U.S. to take action against those who made it.

Protests around the world yesterday were relatively small and calm, but Western embassies remained on alert after the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed in one of the first protests, on Sept. 11.