Cartoons 'spreading hate'

2006-02-12 21:05

Berlin - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has told a German newspaper that those who have published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad are guilty of spreading hate.

In an interview to be published on Monday in the Neuen Ruhr/Neuen Rhein Zeitung, Gaddafi said that hate was not spread by Muslims or Arabs but by the "infidels" who published the cartoons, according to an early release of the article.

Gaddafi also sharply criticised European schools for their approach to Islam.

"They teach the children that Muhammad is not God's Prophet, but a liar," the paper quoted Gaddafi as saying.

The Libyan leader also predicted that the unrest late last year in poor suburbs in France was only the beginning of Muslims' fight against discrimination in Europe.

"Perhaps one day Islam will rule over Europe," the paper quoted Gaddafi as saying.

The caricatures, first published by newspapers in Europe, have sparked protests across the Muslim world.

While many of the demonstrations have been peaceful, European diplomatic missions were attacked by demonstrators last week in Syria, Lebanon and Iran.

Nearly a dozen people were killed in protests in Afghanistan.

- AP