Pope should apologise: Malaysian PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on Pope Benedict XVI to apologise for remarks linking Islam with violence.         

Abdullah, who chairs the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference, also called on the pope to withdraw the comments which he said had offended Muslims all over the world.           

"The pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created," Abdullah was quoted as saying by Malaysia's state news agency from Cuba, where he is attending a Non-Aligned Movement summit.   

"The Vatican must now take full responsibility over the matter and carry out the necessary steps to rectify the mistake," he said.       

Benedict's reference to Islam and Jihad, in a complicated speech last week touching on the relationship between religion and violence during a visit to Germany, has caused widespread anger in the Muslim world.     

The pope's spokesman said later Benedict respected Islam but rejected violence motivated by religion. The explanation, however, failed to quell Muslim anger.     

Abdullah, whose country is often cited as a model moderate Muslim nation, accused the pope of being insensitive towards Muslim feelings.              

"It is unfortunate that such an eminent figure like the pope has not shown leadership in promoting good relations between religions," said Abdullah, an Islamic scholar by training.    

"Instead, his statement has had the effect of sowing more seeds of discord and will not be conducive for dialogue among religions," he said.