Rabat, Sept 16: Morocco announced on Saturday it was
recalling its ambassador to the Vatican for consultations in
the wake of "offensive remarks" made by Pope Benedict XVI.
Earlier today the head of the Roman Catholic Church had
voiced deep regret at the Islamic world's outraged reaction to
a speech he gave in Germany this week but stopped short of
retracting his remarks, arguing that they had been
misinterpreted.
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said that ambassador Ali
Achour would be recalled for consultation as of tomorrow on
the instructions of King Mohammed VI after "offensive remarks
about Islam and Muslims made by Pope Benedict XVI at
Regensburg University on September 12."
The monarch today also sent a written protest to
Benedict, official map news agency said, without giving
details.
Following widespread outrage across the Muslim world,
the pope apologised to Muslims for comments he made in
Germany on Tuesday that appeared to link Islam to violence.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church said his speech
had been intended as a rejection of religiously-motivated
violence from any side.
As is usually the case with texts of this kind, Benedict
XVI had prepared his address alone and had not shown copies to
advisors before he delivered it.
Bureau Report
