U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is sharpening her criticism of an anti-Islam video that has provoked protests in the Arab world.

Clinton says the film is "disgusting and reprehensible." She calls it a cynical attempt to offend people for their religious beliefs.

But Clinton says the U.S. would never stop Americans from expressing their views, no matter how distasteful. And she says the film is no justification for violence or attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel.

Clinton said Thursday the U.S. is monitoring protests in Yemen and elsewhere. She's urging countries to take steps to prevent protests escalating into violence.