Danish premier rejects calls for cartoon crisis probe

Feb 23, 2006, 17:41 GMT

Copenhagen - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday again ruled out calls for a review of his government's response to the crisis triggered by a Danish newspaper's publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed last September.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the foreign affairs committee, Rasmussen said that although the situation in Muslim countries has calmed down, 'the issue is not resolved.'

'We are now entering an international phase and I will not rule out that there may be solution within the auspices of the United Nations,' Rasmussen said, adding he welcomed the cooperation within the European Union.

The premier has been criticized for his initial response to the crisis, refusing to meet with ambassadors from Muslim nations who wanted to protest against the publication.

Rasmussen defended his actions and said the burning of embassies and flags were now the main issue, not how the government responded to a letter or a meeting.

Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said he hoped EU foreign ministers would Monday adopt a statement on the crisis.

'We expect a text that condemns what has happened, embassy burnings and other things, and of course stressing freedom of speech and respect for other religions,' Moller said.

Both the premier and Moller toned down a report in the Thursday's edition of the daily Politiken suggesting that Egypt had warned Copenhagen of the likely fallout over the caricatures some months ago.

Moller said it was not correct that his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit had contacted him several times as Politiken said.

'He did not call once,' Moller said, adding he had made several phone calls to Gheit concerning the crisis.

Opposition Social Democratic leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt said 'Denmark still faces a very serious situation,' adding that the Social Democrats would not press for a review until the crisis was over.

Thorning-Schmidt also said the controversial caricatures were covered by freedom of speech.