Malaysian leader accuses local newspapers

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday accused a local newspaper and foreign publications of being insensitive for reprinting Danish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.

Photo: Malaysian leader accuses local newspapers

Abdullah, who chairs the 157-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, said press freedom has its boundaries and newspapers must take into account the rights and sensitivities of other groups.

Unbridled freedom could lead to chaos and suffering for everybody, he warned.

"Issues such as integrity and religion must be approached with care. We know that matters pertaining to religion are sensitive," he was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency.

Abdullah said he was incredulous that despite Muslim outrage around the world, newspapers in several countries had decided to reprint the Danish cartoons, reports the AP.

I.L.