PESHAWAR, Sept 17: Two protesters died on Monday as thousands took to the streets in towns and cities across Pakistan to vent their fury at an anti-Islam film, burning American flags and effigies of US President Barack Obama.

About 800 people demonstrated in the northwestern town of Warai, in Upper Dir district, setting fire to government offices and the local press club before a protester was killed in an exchange of fire with police.

Another demonstrator died on Monday afternoon after being shot in the head during clashes with police near the US consulate in Karachi on Sunday, a hospital official said.

Up to 100 youths from Jamaat-i-Islami rallied in Karachi on Monday, trying to reach the American consulate before being dispersed by police with teargas.

Some 3,000 university students, teachers and employees marched in Peshawar, chanting anti-US slogans and demanding a ban on the movie.

In Lahore, around 500 angry protesters tried to reach the US consulate but were dispersed by police with teargas.

The American embassy in Islamabad was closed on Monday because of the risk of demonstrations near the mission, and diplomats have been banned from all but essential travel throughout the country.

Hundreds of students protested in Quetta and in the border town of Chaman.—AFP