MOSCOW, February 6 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the international community Monday to prevent an inter-religious conflict from breaking out following the recent publication by some European newspapers of controversial cartoon images of Mohammed. The ministry said extremists should be prevented from using this scandal to provoke an international ethnic and religious conflict.
Moscow is seriously concerned over "the very negative consequences caused by the publication by some western media of caricatures openly insulting the religious feelings of Muslim believers," the ministry said, adding that the indignation of the Muslim world was a predictable reaction to this event.
However, the ministry said acts of vandalism against foreign diplomatic missions in some Muslim countries could not be justified.
"The chain of events caused by the above-mentioned publications is undoubtedly beneficial to those who would like to stir hostility and distrust between nations for their political purposes," the ministry said.
The ministry said freedom of speech was an important achievement of democratic society, but that this principle should respect religious feelings and promote rapprochement of religions.
