Muslim Wave of Anger Over Pope's Jibe

At Egypt's 10th century Al-Azhar mosque, several hundreds of Muslim worshippers took part in the "Day of Anger" called by prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Reuters reported.

The pontiff has delivered a lecture at a German university quoting claims by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought only evil and inhuman, "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The remarks have sparked a widespread anger and condemnation in the Muslim world, with calls for an immediate apology from the pontiff.

But Benedict XVI insisted that worldwide Muslim anger over his speech was the result of an "unfortunate misunderstanding".

The International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has declared an end to dialogue with the Vatican over Benedict's adamancy to retract his offensive anti-Islam remarks, urging Muslims worldwide to stage a one-hour sit-in inside mosques on Friday.

"It looks as if the Vatican is providing the religious justification for the wars waged in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Kamal Habib, a scholar who helped organize the protest in Cairo.

Speakers after the Friday prayers in Cairo linked the Pope to the invasion or occupation of Arab and Muslim countries by the United States, Israel and their allies.

"Wake Up Muslims! It's a conspiracy between the Pope and Bush!" said a banner strung between two pillars at al-Azhar mosque.

"The Pope's remarks are an extension of the Crusader wars and the Pope is known for his negative position on the Palestinian question. It's very clear," said Mohamed el-Beltagi, a member of parliament from the Muslim Brotherhood group.

The protestors also hailed Egypt's Catholics for rejecting Benedict's anti-Islam remarks.

The deputy patriarch of Egypt's Catholics on Saturday, September 16, faulted the pope's remarks, attributing them to his poor knowledge of Islam and Muslims.

"Grudges"

In Mogadishu, similar massive protests were held after the Friday prayers, chanting anti-Pope slogans.

Sheikh Ahmed Taaso, chairman of the Muslim scholars society, said the pope's remarks reflected the grudge of the Catholic Church toward Islam, calling for a full apology.

In Malaysia, hundreds of Muslims held a peaceful rally after the weekly Friday prayers.

Waving anti-Pope banners, the demonstrators called for a full apology from the Pope.

"To us, it's an attempt to disparage Islam. It's something that we cannot accept," said Hatta Ramli, Treasurer of the opposition Islamic Party (PAS).

"We are not looking for enemies ... We will accept his (personal) apology," he added.

In the Pakistani capital Islamabad, hundreds chanted slogans against what they called enemies of Islam and denounced friends of the United States as traitors.

Smaller rallies were held in Karachi, Quetta, Multan and other cities.

Similar protests took place in the Afghan capital Kabul, coupled with criticism of the attitude of the government, which depends on military support from the United States and NATO.

In the occupied Palestinian territories, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in the West Bank and Gaza, condemning the remarks and calling on the Pope to retract the offensive remarks.

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