RAWALPINDI, Feb 3: President Pervez Musharraf on Friday condemned the publication of blasphemous cartoons in some European papers and said such acts would encourage those who speak of clash of civilizations.

Talking to media personnel in his camp office, the president said: “They have inflamed our sentiments and in the strongest terms I condemn it.” The president said he was deeply hurt by the publication of the cartoons and those who did it should have realized the sensitivities involved.

Responding to a question, he rejected the pretext of freedom of press for publishing the cartoons.

“Any educated person who has any understanding of the situation around the world would not like to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims,” the president said.—APP