Rice accuses Syria, Iran in riots

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday accused Syria and Iran of deliberately inciting Islamic outrage over the publication of cartoons in a string of European newspapers that mocked the prophet Muhammad.

Both countries have seen violent demonstrations targeting the diplomatic missions of Denmark, where the cartoons were first published, and other European nations -- part of a string of recent angry protests across the Muslim world.

Political leaders in Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon have tried to tamp down the unrest, Miss Rice said, while the authoritarian regimes in Damascus and Tehran had not.

"Iran and Syria have gone out of their way to inflame sentiment and to use this to their own purposes," she told reporters. "The world ought to call them on it."

President Bush, meeting Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office yesterday, condemned the deadly Muslim protests, yet also defended Islam and a free press.

"We reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press," Mr. Bush said.

"I call upon the governments around the world to stop the violence, to be respectful, to protect property, protect the lives of innocent diplomats who are serving their countries overseas."

The Jordanian king walked the tightrope many moderate Arab and Muslim leaders have faced in the controversy, condemning both the cartoons and the violent protests in their wake.

"Obviously, anything that vilifies the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or attacks Muslim sensibilities needs to be condemned. At the same time, those who want to protest should do it thoughtfully, articulately and express their views peacefully," the king said.

A growing number of Arab and Muslim voices have condemned the violent demonstrations in recent days, including Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani and Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the spiritual and political leaders of Iraq's majority Shi'ite Muslim community.