Mainstream British Muslim organisations yesterday publicly distanced themselves from further violence over the Danish cartoon issue by backing a rally in London in support of political and religious dialogue.
Muslim leaders said last night they expected the rally would draw support from "across the political spectrum" in a clear signal of opposition to the way they believe a minority of extremists are attempting to fuel anger over the cartoon controversy.
A man who dressed as a suicide bomber during the Muslim anti-cartoon protests in London yesterday apologised ''wholeheartedly'' for his behaviour. Omar Khayam's apology came as Downing Street condemned the demonstrations as ''completely unacceptable'' and Scotland Yard announced a special squad had been set up to investigate the placard-wielding extremists. Mr Khayam, 22, said it was ''wrong, unjustified and insensitive'' to protest dressed as a suicide bomber.
Plans for the rally, to be held in London's Trafalgar Square next Saturday, were announced as police indicated they were intensifying the scope and speed of their investigation into several individuals for various alleged offences, linked to a Muslim demonstration in London last Friday.
The Conservative party's shadow home secretary David Davis said yesterday police should prosecute the small group of demonstrators who carried placards carrying slogans calling for the death of those who insulted Islam.
While some moderate Muslims urged early arrests, others warned that police had to be seen to be fair in their application of the law, and not simply clamp down on suspects because of political pressure, in a way that might fuel tensions within the Muslim community.
Tony Blair, the prime minister, yesterday described the attacks on the Danish and other European embassies and the behaviour of some of the demonstrators in London as "completely unacceptable".
"It is always sensible for freedom of expression to be exercised with respect for religious belief. But nothing can justify the violence aimed at European embassies or at the country of Denmark," Mr Blair's official spokesman said.
Yesterday the police indicated they were gathering evidence for a prosecution under public order laws. Those involved in last Friday's alleged incitement to violence are thought to include former members of the disbanded radical Islamist faction al-Muhajiroun, some of whose supporters run a website which backed last Friday's demonstration and its expressions of violence.
It emerged last night that for---mer members of al-Muhajiroun have been under investigation since last year, when various radical groups came under scrutiny following the London bombings.
Moderate Muslims, who claim to have identified some of the ringleaders, described those involved in last Friday's inflammatory slogans as "thugs" who numbered not more than 50 committed supporters.
