10 dead in anti-cartoon riots in Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Ten people were killed clashes with Libyan police after rioters protesting an anti-Muslim Italian official set fire to the Italian embassy in Benghazi, Libya.

The BBC reports the rioters who broke into the embassy split off from a larger, peaceful crowd of more than 1,000 Friday night.

Many were injured along with the 10 killed when police fired live rounds and tear gas into the crowd.

Italian Minister Roberto Calderoli has said dialogue should be stopped with Muslims and sported a t-shirt with the controversial drawings of the Prophet Mohammed on it.

Any depiction of the Prophet Mohammed is considered a religious violation and disrespect of Islam. The cartoons were first published in a Danish newspaper and were reprinted around Europe and the United States, sparking weeks of outrage by Muslim.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, forced back to Rome from the campaign trail to deal with the row, wants Calderoli to resign.