STOCKHOLM, Aug 31: Some 200 Muslims protested on Friday across Sweden against a newspaper that had published a caricature of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), police said.

The protesters called for a ban on blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and demanded an apology from newspaper Nerikes Allehanda, which published the drawing on Aug 18 to illustrate an editorial on self-censorship and freedom of expression and religion.

The group marched several blocks under rainy skies to the newspaper's office, chanting slogans and carrying banners.

“The protest was calm, there were no arrests,” Oerebro police spokesman Torbjoern Carlson told AFP.

The leader of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Oerebro, Jamal Lamhamdi, was granted a 15-minute meeting with the editor-in-chief of Nerikes Allehanda, Ulf Johansson, Mr Carlson added.

The publication of the cartoon has prompted angry reactions from Iran and Pakistan, which have both summoned Swedish diplomats to receive protests.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference has also condemned the publication and urged the Swedish government to punish the artist and the publisher and demand an apology.

The cartoon was drawn by Swedish provocateur Lars Vilks.

Several art galleries refused to display the sketches because of fears of angry reactions from Muslims, sparking a debate in the Swedish media on self-censorship and freedom of expression.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told news agency TT on Friday that he would defend Sweden's “freedom of expression”.—AFP