ANKARA, Feb. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday that Turkey continued to take the initiative in preventing escalation of the cartoon crisis.
Speaking at a weekly news conference, Tan said that the reaction of some Muslim countries to the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad was tough.
"Public opinion in Muslim countries considered the printing of the caricatures as an attack on the sacred values of Islam, on the other hand the issue was taken from a freedom of press and expression perspective in European countries," he said.
Tan stressed that lack of dialogue between the West and the Muslim world was being manipulated by fanatics at both sides.
"Freedom of expression is one of the basic principles of democracy. But one should act responsibly while exercising that right. On the other hand Turkey can in no way approve acts of violence," Tan added.
On whether the diplomatic missions of European countries in Turkey requested additional protection, Tan said that Turkey attached great importance to their security and the security forces were taking extensive measures in that regard.
Danish daily Jyllands-Poste first published 12 cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad last September, one of which depicted him wearing a bomb-shaped turban.
The cartoons, which were reprinted in some other European press, have provoked widespread protests and boycott of Danish products in the Muslim world.
