Papal 'regrets' first step; more needed: Muslim groups

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI's statement that he regretted causing any offence to Muslims fell short of an apology, Islamic groups said, as Morocco became the first Muslim country to recall its Vatican ambassador over the pope's remarks.

Morocco's foreign ministry announced that its ambassador would be recalled effective Sunday for consultation on the instructions of King Mohammed VI after "offensive remarks about Islam and Muslims made by Pope Benedict XVI at Regensburg University on September 12".           

The head of the Roman Catholic Church on Saturday said he "sincerely regretted" that he may have offended Muslims, but stopped short of retracting his words.      

The Muslim world seethed with fury over the pope's comments, which critics said linked violence and Islam.        

Reacting to the pope's statement, Muslim groups in Egypt said Benedict had not been sufficiently contrite.            

"This is not an apology. The Vatican secretary seems content to confirm that the pope is sorry because his remarks were misinterpreted. But they were not misinterpreted," said Abdel Moneim Abul Futuh, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood group. "The pope made a mistake, he must recognise it and apologise," he added.            

In Jordan, Zaki bin Arshid, the general secretary of the Islamic Action Front -- one of the country's most influential political parties -- said Benedict's comments Saturday were "a step in the right direction, but not enough."             

"The apologies must be accompanied by clear and calming letters," he continued, adding, "if the pope's declarations were just an error, then an apology will be sufficient."   

But he continued that he hoped the remarks made in the speech were "not the pope's or the Roman Catholic Church's real views, because then the situation would be very serious."             

Muslim groups in Britain meanwhile cautiously welcomed Saturday's regrets, although some also said the statement fell short of a full apology.             

The Muslim Council of Britain, Britain's Ramadhan Foundation, the British Muslim Initiative and the Islamic Society of Britain all reacted positively to the pope's statement.       

Mohamed Abdul Bari, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, called the statement a "welcome step" but the pope needed to repudiate the views he quoted to restore relations between Muslims and the Roman Catholic Church.      

"It's certainly a welcome step that the pope recognises the hurt that his speech caused. He quoted the words of the emperor who made very derogatory remarks about the prophet, and his inclusion has caused enormous hurt," Bari said.     

"We feel it has undermined confidence in the Vatican," he added.             

Mohamed Umar, chairman of the Ramadhan Foundation, a youth organisation, had on Friday accused the pope of falling into "the trap of bigots and racists".          

However, following Saturday's statement from the Vatican, he told Sky News: "We welcome his apology and we hope now we can work together and build bridges. At the same time we would condemn all forms of violent demonstration.             

"Burning images of the pope is not going to help us or any community relationship," he said.          

Ihtisham Hibatullah of the British Muslim Initiative also welcomed the pope's regrets.        

"Even though the remarks weren't intentionally directed at offending Muslims, the Muslim community worldwide was deeply offended," he said.          

"It's a very welcome move that he has explained himself and apologised."             

Ajmal Masroor, from the Islamic Society of Britain, told the BBC it was "greatly noble" of the head of the Roman Catholic Church to accept "his mistake."   

Benedict XVI made the remarks that sparked the current furore on Tuesday during a speech at Regensburg University in Germany. His address painted Islam in a violent light, particularly with reference to jihad or "holy war".     

The pope also quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who said innovations introduced by the Prophet Mohammed were "evil and inhuman".          

In his statement on Saturday the pope said that in citing the emperor he had not meant "to make that opinion his own in any way."      

Governments and Muslim groups in many Islamic countries reacted with fury to the speech. The head of the Christian Orthodox Church also waded into the debate on Saturday.          

Regretting the row over the pope's comments, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I cautioned against any move that might strain ties between religions.        

Bartholomew I "is deeply sad over the recent course of events in ties between the Christian and Islamic religions," a statement in Turkish from the Istanbul-based patriarchate said.     

"When there are so many dangers facing humanity and when there are so many common values and opportunities for cooperation between religions and cultures ... it is essential not to offend each other and to avoid situations that might hurt each other's beliefs," it added.     

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi also reacted to the pope's apology, saying Benedict XVI had "clarified" the confusion surrounding his speech.   

"There is no need for a furore, the pope has already clarified the real sense," of the comments about Islam, Prodi added.