THE United States has advised its citizens to keep away from Martin Place and Hyde Park this weekend amid fears of another outbreak of anti-American violence.

The deputy Police Commissioner, Nick Kaldas, said yesterday he had no intelligence to suggest there would be protests this weekend, but the Herald has learnt a special operation is in place to ensure there is no repeat of last Saturday’s unrest.

Officers from 10 squads, including mounted police, the dog unit and riot squad, will be supported by the force’s helicopter as part of Operation Waterman over the weekend.

Deputy Commissioner Kaldas and Sheikh Mousselmani. Photo: Sahlan Hayes

There have been messages circulating on Facebook encouraging further retaliation against the anti-Islamic film Innocence of Muslims and the police who quelled last week’s demonstration.

And a letter, titled ”Emergency Message for US Citizens” and sent to all those registered with the US consulate, states that ”law enforcement authorities” have warned of possible demonstrations tomorrow or Sunday.

”Fast-forming anti-American protests in Australia remain possible,” the letter states.

A similar warning has been issued in 33 other countries including Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia and Lebanon. One US citizen living in Sydney said he had never received such a specific warning in his five years overseas.

And the publication of cartoons of a naked Prophet Mohammed in a French magazine has prompted the French consulate in Sydney and the embassy in Canberra to increase security measures.

Police said last night that Sydney remained ”one of the safest cities in the world” and the city centre would be open for tourists and locals this weekend.

However, one message posted by a Muslim woman on Facebook has attracted hundreds of comments and states: ”This Sunday 23 September 1 pm at Hyde Park we can all bring own pepper spray!”

Another says: ”This Sunday at Hyde Park 23 September we show the kufar [non-believers] what we can do again!”

Some of the country’s most senior Muslim leaders met police yesterday to affirm their support for the police actions during and after the protests.

The grand mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, who has never fronted the media in such a way, said Muslims who wanted to protest again were turning themselves from ”victim to criminal”.

Their show of support for the police is likely to anger some Muslims who have insisted police baited protesters in Hyde Park and responded heavy-handedly.

Meanwhile, claims by a controversial sheikh that he had nothing to do with the protest have been slammed by a Muslim activist, Jamal Daoud, as ”cheap lies”.

After days of speculation that he or his students were linked to the protests, Sheikh Feiz Mohammad broke his silence yesterday to tell the Muslim Village website that the protests were ”against every facet and tenor of the Islamic teachings” and that none of his students was involved.

But Mr Daoud, a refugee advocate, said the majority of violent protesters came from the mosques and musallahs of ”extreme Wahabi sheikhs” like Sheik Feiz and Sheikh Abdel Salam Zoud.

Ahmed Elomar, one of the men arrested over the riot, was a former student of Sheikh Feiz and messages urging people to go to the rally were posted in forums for the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah group that Sheikh Feiz leads.

Police last night charged a ninth person over the weekend riots. A 19-year-old man was charged with affray and throwing missiles at police and was granted bail to appear in court next month.

Bid dismissed … chief opposition whip Warren Entsch. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen / Fairfax

The Senate has voted down a bill to legalise same sex marriage.

The bill, co-sponsored by Labor Senators Trish Crossin, Carol Brown, Louise Pratt and Gavin Marshall was defeated by 41 votes to 26.

All coalition Senators, several Labor Senators – including Communications Minister Stephen Conroy – and Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan voted against the bill.

The nine Green Senators, independent Nick Xenophon and many Labor Senators including Senate leader Chris Evans and Finance Minister Penny Wong voted for the bill.

Liberal Senator Sue Boyce, who earlier today spoke in favour of the bill, was absent from the chamber, informally paired with Labor Senator and same sex marriage supporter Joe Ludwig.

While Labor Senators had a free vote on the issue, coalition Senators were bound to vote against it.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has all but dismissed Liberal MP Warren Entsch’s bid to put civil unions on the federal political agenda.

Mr Abbott said today that the dust should be allowed to settle after the same-sex marriage votes in parliament this week, adding that civil unions were more a matter for state parliaments.

Mr Entsch – the chief opposition whip – wants couples of the same gender formally recognised as partners and told ABC Radio today that he had the civil unions bill in his drawer, ready to go.

”I’ve indicated to Tony [Abbott] that we need to have a sit-down and have a chat and I’m looking forward to doing that at some time in the near future,” Mr Entsch said.

”I know that a lot of colleagues are very particularly keen in having a look at this.”

Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra today that he speaks to Mr Entsch ”all the time” on ”all sorts of issues”.

”I’ve known for months and months that he’s got a draft bill on this,” he said.

But while the Opposition Leader said he would continue to have a ”dialogue” with Mr Entsch, he appeared to pour cold water on the civil unions proposal.

”We really should let the dust settle on these parliamentary votes before we rush off and do something else,” Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott added that the ”constitutional prerogatives of the Commonwealth” were in the field of marriage and that civil unions should be the prerogative of the state parliaments.

He also said that the Coalition would not change the policy it took to the 2010 election – which was not to change the Marriage Act.

”We are never going to be a party that says one thing before an election, and does the opposite afterwards,” Mr Abbott said.

But the Opposition Leader – who has not given Coalition MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage – said he accepted there were a range of views on the issue, including within the Coalition.

”I am a bit conflicted myself on this issue,” he said.

”I’ve had some lively and a times, heartfelt discussions with my sister Chris [who is a lesbian] on this subject.”

Earlier today, Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt urged Mr Entsch not to go ahead with plans to introduce a civil unions bill, arguing it is would be a step backwards.

”It will entrench two tiers of love,” he said.

Yesterday Labor MP Stephen Jones’ same sex marriage bill was voted down in the lower house, 98 votes to 42.

As Liberal senator Cory Bernardi’s views on same-sex marriage garner intentional attention, Mr Abbott confirmed that he personally found Senator Bernardi’s comments repugnant.

”Yes I do – and the fact that Cory is no longer a member of the shadow frontbench demonstrates that he did the wrong thing in every sense.”

Bid dismissed … chief opposition whip Warren Entsch. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen / Fairfax

The Senate has voted down a bill to legalise same sex marriage.

The bill, co-sponsored by Labor Senators Trish Crossin, Carol Brown, Louise Pratt and Gavin Marshall was defeated by 41 votes to 26.

All coalition Senators, several Labor Senators – including Communications Minister Stephen Conroy – and Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan voted against the bill.

The nine Green Senators, independent Nick Xenophon and many Labor Senators including Senate leader Chris Evans and Finance Minister Penny Wong voted for the bill.

Liberal Senator Sue Boyce, who earlier today spoke in favour of the bill, was absent from the chamber, informally paired with Labor Senator and same sex marriage supporter Joe Ludwig.

While Labor Senators had a free vote on the issue, coalition Senators were bound to vote against it.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has all but dismissed Liberal MP Warren Entsch’s bid to put civil unions on the federal political agenda.

Mr Abbott said today that the dust should be allowed to settle after the same-sex marriage votes in parliament this week, adding that civil unions were more a matter for state parliaments.

Mr Entsch – the chief opposition whip – wants couples of the same gender formally recognised as partners and told ABC Radio today that he had the civil unions bill in his drawer, ready to go.

”I’ve indicated to Tony [Abbott] that we need to have a sit-down and have a chat and I’m looking forward to doing that at some time in the near future,” Mr Entsch said.

”I know that a lot of colleagues are very particularly keen in having a look at this.”

Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra today that he speaks to Mr Entsch ”all the time” on ”all sorts of issues”.

”I’ve known for months and months that he’s got a draft bill on this,” he said.

But while the Opposition Leader said he would continue to have a ”dialogue” with Mr Entsch, he appeared to pour cold water on the civil unions proposal.

”We really should let the dust settle on these parliamentary votes before we rush off and do something else,” Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott added that the ”constitutional prerogatives of the Commonwealth” were in the field of marriage and that civil unions should be the prerogative of the state parliaments.

He also said that the Coalition would not change the policy it took to the 2010 election – which was not to change the Marriage Act.

”We are never going to be a party that says one thing before an election, and does the opposite afterwards,” Mr Abbott said.

But the Opposition Leader – who has not given Coalition MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage – said he accepted there were a range of views on the issue, including within the Coalition.

”I am a bit conflicted myself on this issue,” he said.

”I’ve had some lively and a times, heartfelt discussions with my sister Chris [who is a lesbian] on this subject.”

Earlier today, Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt urged Mr Entsch not to go ahead with plans to introduce a civil unions bill, arguing it is would be a step backwards.

”It will entrench two tiers of love,” he said.

Yesterday Labor MP Stephen Jones’ same sex marriage bill was voted down in the lower house, 98 votes to 42.

As Liberal senator Cory Bernardi’s views on same-sex marriage garner intentional attention, Mr Abbott confirmed that he personally found Senator Bernardi’s comments repugnant.

”Yes I do – and the fact that Cory is no longer a member of the shadow frontbench demonstrates that he did the wrong thing in every sense.”