Muslim cleric asks pope for 'clear apology'

The top Muslim clergyman in the Palestinian territories today demanded Pope Benedict XVI offer a “clear apology” for remarks about Islam that ignited protests across the Muslim world.

The mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Hussein, urged Palestinians to stop their attacks on churches, but held the pontiff responsible for the outpouring of Muslim anger.

“So far, we consider the apology of the Vatican pope insufficient,” Hussein told reporters.

“We firmly ask the Vatican pope to offer a personal, public and clear apology to the 1.5 billion Muslims in this world.”

Benedict sparked the furore last week by quoting a medieval text that characterised some of the teachings of Islam’s founder, the Prophet Mohammed, as “evil and inhuman”, and branded Islam a religion spread by the sword.

The pontiff tried to defuse the outrage by saying he was “deeply sorry” for the reactions.

However, because he didn’t explicitly acknowledge doing anything wrong, many Muslims don’t think his apology went far enough.

Seven churches in the West Bank and Gaza were attacked following Benedict’s comments.