Muslims rally in Europe
2006-02-11 13:06
Paris - Muslims were set to rally across Europe Saturday to vent their anger over satirical images of the Prophet Mohammed, a day after Denmark's ambassador to Syria temporarily left the country over security fears.
In the west German city of Duesseldorf several hundred Muslims joined a protest march to the Danish consulate but police did not expect any violence.
Protest rallies were also planned in Berlin and other German cities; Paris and Strasbourg in France, and in Amsterdam.
Blair: Violence not justified
In Britain where demonstrations were due to start in London at 13:00, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Friday he regretted the offense caused to Muslims by the caricatures reprinted by European papers, but added that nothing justified the violent backlash.
"I understand the offense the cartoons have caused, we all regret that," Blair said at the opening of his Labour Party's spring conference in Blackpool, northern England.
"But nothing, I repeat nothing, can justify the violent retribution visited on innocent people or embassies round the world or the glorifying of acts of terrorism," including those on July 7 last year in London, Blair said.
Newspapers across Europe have republished some or all of the 12 cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper last September, prompting violent demonstrations across the world, particularly in the Middle East.