Saudi Arabia Asked To Use Influence In Cartoon Fury

Angry demonstrators at the Danish embassy in Kabul today (AFP)

6 February 2006 -- The United States appealed today to Saudi Arabia to use its influence in the Arab world to help ease tensions sweeping the Middle East over published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

While Muslim politicians around the world called for calm, the U.S. administration urged Saudi Arabia to take the lead in stemming Muslim protests over the published images.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the leaders of the Saudi government might be able to fulfill the role of easing tensions.

McCormack also said the United States strongly condemns acts of violence that have occurred during the protests over the cartoons.

(AP)