Muslims demand end to 'vilification' in London protest

Chanting and waving placards, protestors gathered again today to voice their disgust at cartoons satirising the prophet Mohammed.

Separated from the Danish embassy in central London by fences and a row of police, hundreds of Muslims had come to demonstrate against the drawings, which have sparked worldwide anger.

But initially the rally – organised by controversial Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir – was far more restrained than scenes yesterday, when protestors called for more attacks like the July 7 bombings and burned the Danish flag.

Flanked by a forest of messages such as, "Freedom’ to insult”, a speaker told the crowd they were demanding an end to “vilification”.

“If you want to debate and criticise then we are ready and we have been waiting, but we are not going to accept these images.”

He called on “the governments of the Muslim world to completely sever all contact with European governments” until they had “controlled the media”.

The cartoons first appeared in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten last September, but have since been republished and broadcast across the continent.

The drawings include one depicting Mohammed wearing a turban shaped like a bomb. Another shows him saying that paradise was running out of virgins.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw yesterday launched a fierce attack on the decision by some media outlets, including the BBC, to republish the cartoons.

Mr Straw said: “There is freedom of speech - we all respect that - but there is not an obligation to insult or to be gratuitously inflammatory.”

The cartoons have caused outrage across the Muslim community because Islamic tradition bars any depiction of the prophet to prevent idolatry.

Danish products have been boycotted in the Middle East while angry demonstrations have taken place throughout the region.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is behind the protest today, has been banned from operating in several countries amid claims that those recruited to the extreme Islamist group may also be attracted to terrorism.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair hopes to outlaw the group under plans set out in the Terrorism Bill.