Pope apologises after Muslims turn up heat [+video]

Pope Benedict

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI said last night that he was "deeply sorry" at the anger caused by his remarks on Islam and said a quote he used from a medieval text about holy wars did not reflect his personal thoughts.

The Pope had been under pressure to issue a personal apology after his speech last week in Germany sparked fury in the Muslim world. The Vatican earlier issued a statement saying he regretted the impact of his comments.

"I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims," he told pilgrims at his Castelgandolfo summer residence last night.

"These in fact were a quotation from a medieval text, which do not in any way express my personal thought. I hope this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with mutual respect," he said.

The comments, part of his regular Sunday Angelus blessing, came at his first public appearance since making the comments. Italian media said security at Castelgandolfo had been tightened.

It was not clear if the apology would go far enough for Muslims who remained angry at what they said portrayed Islam as a religion tainted with violence.

In Iran, theological schools closed yesterday in protest at the Pope and Etemad-e Melli newspaper said senior clerics demanded an immediate apology. The English-language Tehran Times called his remarks "code words for the start of a new crusade".

Morocco withdrew its ambassador to the Vatican, calling the Pope's remarks "offensive", and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood - the country's main opposition force - said the Vatican statement was not enough.

"We feel he has committed a grave error against us," said the Brotherhood's deputy leader, Mohammed Habib.

The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, one of the country's main Shi'ite political parties, had also called for the Pope to apologise "clearly and honestly".

In the speech in Germany, the Pope referred to criticism of the Prophet Muhammad by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus.

The emperor said everything Muhammad brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

Egypt, Iraq and Kuwait summoned the Vatican's envoys and eight churches, some Catholic, in the West Bank and Gaza have been attacked over the weekend, as well as one in Iraq, causing minor damage.

The backlash had cast doubt on his planned visit to Turkey in November.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, a pious Muslim with roots in political Islam, called the Pope's comments "ugly and unfortunate".

Angry Muslim leaders flung what they saw as allegations of violence back at the West.

"How can he imply that Muslims are the creators of terrorism in the world while it is the followers of Christianity who have been aggressive against every country of the Islamic world?" said Saudi cleric Salman al-Odeh.

"Who attacked Afghanistan and who invaded Iraq?"

- REUTERS