Wednesday, February 8 2006 12:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The United Nations, European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) expressed alarm over worldwide Muslim fury against Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed and urged restraint and dialogue.

"We are deeply alarmed at the repercussions of the publication in Denmark several months ago of insulting caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed and their subsequent republication by some other European newspapers, and at the violent acts that have occurred in reaction to them," representatives of the three organizations said in a joint statement yesterday (Feb 7, 2006).

"We fully uphold the right of free speech. But we understand the deep hurt and widespread indignation felt in the Muslim world," said the statement signed by UN chief Kofi Annan, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

"We believe freedom of the press entails responsibility and discretion and should respect the beliefs and tenets of all religions," it added.

The statement, however, also stressed that 'the recent violent acts surpass the limits of peaceful protest,'and specifically condemned "the deplorable attacks on diplomatic missions that have occurred in Damascus, Beirut and elsewhere.

It called on authorities of all countries to 'protect all diplomatic premises and foreign citizens against unlawful attack'.