Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit uncovered that the Danish government had ignored a number of Egyptian offers to help it avoid an acute crisis due to the cartoons depicting the prophet. Abul Gheit said he warned his Danish counterpart that such cartoons could bring about several problems between Copenhagen and the Arab and Islamic world.

In an interview with the Danish newspaper "Plitiken" Abul Gheit said his warnings were not taken for serious by the Danish side and that the message by the Danish Foreign Minister was one of rejection and called on those harmed by the cartoons to file suitcase.

Abul Gheit added that the adoption of an official stance against insulting religions and creeds could have contained the wrath of Muslims.

Abul Gheit pointed out that Copenhagen stressed that it would not make concessions concerning its support to freedom of expression. Abul Gheit added that he did not ask the Danish side to stop the publication of the paper in question but rather he expected a Danish statement affirming the respect of religions.

24-2-2006