United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has strongly condemned the republication of the controversial images on Prophet Mohammed by some newspapers and advocated all steps to be taken to calm down the situation.
"Honestly, I do not understand why any newspaper will publish the cartoons. It is insensitive, it is offensive, it is provocative, and they should see what has happened around the world. This does not mean that I am against freedom of speech or freedom of the press," Annan told reporters in New York.
"But as I have indicated in the past, freedom of speech is not a license. It does entail exercising responsibility and judgment. Acts like this pour oil on fire," he pointed out.
Stating that it would be 'difficult' for him to say whether governments were manipulating the situation, Annan said, "I have no evidence to that effect. This is so widespread and is unfortunate that we all need to take steps to calm the situation. However angry may those concerned be, but violence is not the answer."
"They should not attack innocent civilians," he added. "They should not attack people who are not responsible for the publication of the cartoons. Whether it is a general condemnation of Denmark, or Europeans, it is wrong. They should really avoid doing that and violence must be condemned as unacceptable."