Egyptian PM tells US: Stop people from insulting Islam

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil called on the US Administration on Saturday to stop people from insulting Islam.In an interview with BBC Arabic, Qandil said it was "unacceptable to insult our Prophet" but also not right for peaceful protests to turn violent.His comments come amid protests in the Middle East and North Africa over an anti-Islam film made in the US. The film has sparked violent protests in several countries, leaving at least seven people dead.US embassies and Western businesses have been attacked, including the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi, where the ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.Qandil said the film had been made by "wicked" amateurs, but that while it was "unacceptable to insult our Prophet" it was also "unjustifiable to have a peaceful demo turned violent." The Egyptian authorities have taken measures to ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic missions in Egypt, he said, but all sides needed now to improve their view of each other."Egyptians, Arabs, Muslims - we need to reflect the true identity of Muslims, how peaceful they are, and talk to the Western media about the true heart of the Muslims, that they condemn violence," said Qandil.The link between the US and Egypt was, he said, "a relationship that we need to make stronger based on mutual interests and respect for sovereignty".He also called on the US, and other governments, to "take the necessary measures to ensure insulting billions of people, one-and-a-half billion people and their beliefs, does not happen and people pay for what they do, and at the same time make sure that the reflections of the true Egyptian and Muslims is well in the Western media".  /129