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Embassies Burned as Cartoon Violence Continues

Outrage among Muslims around the world over cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad again erupted into violence on Saturday, as crowds in Damascus, Syria, set afire the embassies of two countries where newspapers published the images forbidden by Islam. The embassies of Denmark and Norway were badly damaged by demonstrators shouting "Allahu Akbar!", or "God is Great!", as police fired tear gas and water cannons, news reports said.

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church added its voice to Western governments condemning publication of the images. "The right to freedom of thought and expression...cannot entail the right to offend the religious sentiment of believers," the Vatican said in a statement. The controversy showed no signs of abating as newspapers reprinted the cartoons, triggering fresh protests.

Western governments noted that the burning of the embassies had to have had some sanction of the government in Syria, since the country is a police state. Danish and Norwegian citizens have been urged to leave the country, and on Sunday the Danish embassy in Beirut, capital of neighboring Lebanon, was also set aflame.