WASHINGTON, Feb 8: US President George W. Bush on Wednesday urged governments around the world to quell the violent response to the caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but warned that the media had ‘the responsibility to be thoughtful.’

“I call upon the governments around the word to stop the violence, to be respectful, to protect property, to protect the lives of innocent diplomats,” Mr Bush said as he met Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

“I made it clear to His Majesty and he made it clear to me that we reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in the free press,” the president said during a brief joint appearance in the Oval Office.

The United States has walked a tightrope ever since a conservative Danish newspaper published caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, angering Muslims who consider them blasphemous and sparking violence around the world.

Washington has worked to balance a defence of the ‘freedom of the press’ with calls for tolerance, and at times has accused Muslims of keeping quiet in the face of articles and cartoons with anti-Semitic or anti-Christian messages.

“We believe in a free press. And also recognize that with freedom comes responsibilities. With freedom comes the responsibility to be thoughtful about others,” said Mr Bush.

“With all respect to press freedoms, obviously, anything that vilifies Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or attacks Muslim sensibilities, needs to be condemned,” said the king.

“But at the same time, those who want to protest should do it thoughtfully, articulately, express their views peacefully. When we see a protest, when we see destruction, when we see violence, especially if it ends up taking the lives of innocent people, (it) is completely unacceptable,” the monarch added.

—AFP