Nissen had made it clear that the visit was not meant to apologize on behalf of the Danish government or Jyllands-Posten.

By Adel Abdel Halim, IOL Correspondent

CAIRO , February 18, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – A delegation of Danish Christian clerics regretted on Saturday, February 18, the publication of cartoons that lampooned Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the daily Jyllands-Posten.

In a meeting with Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi, the delegation, headed by Bishop of Viborg Karsten Nissen, said Danish Christians were as offended as Muslims.

The delegation, who arrived on Thursday, February 16, will hold talks with Egyptian Mufti Ali Gomaa, the Orthodox bishop of Cairo , the bishop of the Anglican church in Cairo as well as Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

In statements before his arrival, Nissen said the aim of the journey was "to say that Danes don't hate Muslims and that Christians want to live in peace with Muslims in Denmark and in the rest of the world."

He, however, made it clear that the visit was not meant to apologize on behalf of the Danish government or the daily.

The cartoons, one of them showing the Prophet with a bomb-shaped turban, were first published in September by Jyllands-Posten, and later reprinted by newspapers in many countries on the ground of freedom of expression.

Any image of the Prophet -- let alone biting caricatures -- is considered blasphemous under Islam.

The Danish paper has apologized for "offending" Muslim feelings but not for printing the caricatures, which have triggered massive and sometimes violent demonstrations across the Muslim world, with no sign of abating.

Anti-Blasphemy Law

"We want an abiding international law criminalizing insulting religions, prophets and sanctities," said Sheikh Tantawi.

Sheikh Tantawi called on clerics and scholars from all the world over to join forces and press for the enactment of an international law criminalizing blasphemy.

"We want an abiding international law criminalizing insults to religions, prophets and sanctities," he said after the meeting with the Danish delegation.

Sheikh Tantawi said religious leaders "do have the power" to press for such a law "if supported by the media."

"The current standoff will only come to an end if this law sees the light," he said.

Tantawi made the same call during a meeting earlier Saturday with the Vatican 's charge d'affaires in Cairo , who relayed a statement from Pope Benedict XVI.

The statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net, stressed that freedom of expression should not be used as a pretext to insult the followers of any religion.

The pope said reciprocal respect is the bedrock of coexistence between the mankind and world peace.

He further urged authorities in countries at issue to intervene and put a stop to blasphemy.

Muslim countries are pressing for a ban on religious intolerance to be part of the bedrock of a planned new United Nations human rights body.

A cohort of Muslim dignitaries and organizations are calling for the enactment of an international law banning the publication of any insults to religious symbols and values.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Arab League, the Muslim world's two main political bodies, are seeking a UN resolution, backed by possible sanctions, to protect religions.