AP: Al Qaeda's branch in North Africa is calling for attacks on US diplomats and an escalation of protests against an anti-Islam video that triggered a wave of demonstrations in Muslim countries.        

In a statement released today, Al Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb praised the killing of Christopher Stevens, the US ambassador to Libya, in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi on September 11.        

The group threatened attacks in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania in response to the movie.       

Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula recently issued a similar call for attacks on US diplomatic facilities. The group is Al Qaeda's most active branch in the Middle East.