Faced with protests over the anti-Islam film for the thirdday, the US consulate here has shut down its visa section for two days from Monday.
The visa section will be closed for appointments on Mondayand Tuesday. Persons with appointments are being notified for reschedulingdates. Emergency services will be offered to American citizens," anadvisory posted on the Consulate's official website said.
The decision to close the visa section came as the anti-USprotests in front of the consulate continued for the third day today withanother Muslim outfit planning to hold a demonstration tomorrow.
A spokesperson of the Consulate said the decision to closedown the visa section for two days was taken yesterday and all applicantsalready given appointment had been informed about the rescheduling.
"In no way will they be inconvenienced," he saidadding around 1,000 visa applicants visited the Consulate every day.
Earlier, the Consulate had issued a travel advisory, askingUS nationals to exercise caution while moving around the city, in the face ofprotests.
On Friday last, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagamactivists picketed the consulate and pelted stones damaging some window panes,prompting city police to further beef up security at the heavily-guardedinstallation located on the arterial Anna Salai.
Another Muslim outfit staged a protest on Saturday whileViduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi activists held a demonstration in front of theconsulate today protesting the American film, 'Innocence of Muslims,' whichallegedly denigrated Prophet Mohammad.
