Iranian foreign minister calls for end to cartoons violence
Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki today called for an end to the violent protests over the Prophet Mohammed cartoons.
“We should try to cool down the situation. We do not support any violence,” Mottaki said in Brussels.
He added that freedom of expression must be exercised with sensitivity and with respect for others’ values and beliefs.
Mottaki spoke at a news conference at the Iranian Embassy to the EU as the protests over the caricatures continued across Asia and two days after 15 people were killed during a riot in northern Nigeria, where Muslims burned 15 Christian churches.
“We are facing ... angry Muslims all around the world. We have to try our best to avoid any violence,” he said. “This is what we are trying to do in Iran. ... So many of our policemen were attacked by angry people on the streets.”
Mottaki said he had been in contact with European foreign ministers as well as officials from Islamic countries to try to quell the protests.
Mottaki was expected to address the issue again during a meeting with the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee later today.
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