WASHINGTON, Feb 6: The White House on Monday expressed sympathy with Muslims hurt by the publication of sacrilegious caricatures in a section of the European press but also condemned violent protests spreading across the Islamic world.

Urging governments across the world to take steps to lower tensions, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: “There should be a constructive and peaceful dialogue that emphasises respect for all religious faiths.”

Giving the first official reaction by the White House to this controversy, Mr McClellan said: “We understand fully why people, why Muslims find the cartoons offensive.” But he said that it was important for people to be able to express their views.

“Those who disagree with the views that were expressed certainly have the right to condemn them, but they should be peaceful and we urge constructive dialogue about this difficult issue,” he added.

The freedom of speech, he said, also comes with “responsibilities … and it’s important that there be tolerance and respect for people from all communities and all religious faiths”.

But those protesting against views expressed by others should not resort to violent means to show their feelings. “We condemn acts of violence wherever they occur in relation to the concerns over these cartoons, and that’s why we urge all governments to take steps to lower tensions and prevent violence,” said Mr McClellan. “And that includes against diplomatic premises and against businesses and individuals,” he said.

He also urged people who are criticizing the cartoons “to speak out forcefully against all forms of hate speech, including cartoons and articles throughout parts of the Arab world, which frequently espouse anti-Semitic and anti-Christian views”.

Violent protests have erupted around the world over these cartoons first published in a newspaper in Denmark and then republished in other European newspapers.

Also in Washington, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an umbrella organization representing more than a dozen major Muslim groups, rejected the use of violence in response to the defamatory caricatures.