STOCKHOLM, Sept 1: A leading Swedish newspaper on Saturday said the country should not apologise for the recent publication of a caricature of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Dagens Nyheter said in an editorial that Sweden “has a duty from now on to defend its principles and present an open dialogue”. It said offended Muslims would not receive the apologies they were asking for.

Swedish newspaper Nerikes Allehanda had published the caricature on Aug 18 to illustrate an editorial on self-censorship and freedom of expression and religion.

The Kabul Times, an Afghan newspaper, published on Saturday their indignation at this “provocation”, according to Swedish press agency TT.

Svenska Dagbladet, another broadsheet, said Sweden was now in a situation “which could escalate and slip away from Swedish control”.—AFP