Sweden PM Meets Muslim Diplomats Over Prophet Mohammad Drawings

Muslim diplomats gave Sweden's prime minister high marks on Friday for his efforts to defuse tension over the publication of a drawing of the Prophet Mohammad that several countries have denounced.

After meeting ambassadors from 22 Muslim countries over the issue, Prime Minster Frederik Reinfeldt said the talks went well but it was too soon to say tensions would not flare up again.

Muslim countries including Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have expressed anger over a newspaper's publication of a drawing depicting the Prophet Mohammad's head on the body of a dog. The paper said it displayed the picture in defence of free speech.

Reinfeldt's invitation to the diplomats, and the peaceful nature of demonstrations so far, have been in stark contrast to the storm of protests that followed the publication of cartoons of Mohammad in a Danish paper last year.

Iranian Ambassador Hassan Ghashghavi said Friday's meeting was a good achievement. Other ambassadors leaving the meeting echoed that view and said they had made no demands of Sweden.

"This meeting promotes dialogue and better mutual understanding. We hope to continue this dialogue ... to remove all ambiguity and to promote freedom of expression and freedom of religion without abuse," Ghashghavi said.

Swedish newspaper Nerikes Allehanda had published the sketch, one of a series of works by Swedish artist Lars Vilks, on Aug. 24 after galleries in Sweden declined to display them.

Iran, the first country to protest the publication of the drawing on Aug. 27, summoned Sweden's charge d'affaires in Tehran to complain. Muslims believe images of the Prophet are forbidden and also consider dogs to be impure.

Reinfeldt told reporters after the meeting he had explained how politicians in Sweden were not allowed to interfere with newspapers over what they could publish.

"I feel there is a continued need for crisis management," Reinfeldt said. "This is not yet over. I can't for sure say that this will not lead to further reactions."

In Helsinki, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said governments should be prepared to change their laws to prevent insults to religions.

"Freedom of expression does not mean freedom of insulting, and it should not justify provocation," he told a news conference. "If necessary, governments should change their laws to prevent insults to other religions."

Denmark's prime minister in 2006 initially would not meet with Muslim ambassadors over the cartoons depicting Mohammad.

After European newspapers reprinted the cartoons, protests spread throughout the Muslim world, some turning violent.