World

Egypt's presidential spokesman says the breaching of the U.S. embassy in Cairo during protests over an anti-Islam film was "unjustified," denouncing it in the strongest words to date to come from the nation's highest office.

Spokesman Yasser Ali's comments Sunday seem aimed to defuse criticism of President Mohammed Morsi, who condemned the breaching of the mission's perimeter only two days afterward, leading to tension with Washington.

Scores of Egyptian protesters scaled the embassy walls on Tuesday and entered its courtyard, tearing down the U.S. flag. Hours later, attackers in Libya killed four diplomats, including the ambassador, in an assault on the Benghazi consulate.

After three days of clashes in Cairo, authorities blocked off the embassy's street with a concrete wall. The visa section remained closed Sunday despite earlier plans to reopen.