COPENHAGEN, Feb 20: Denmark and Norway on Monday condemned as incitement to ‘murder’ a Pakistani imam’s offer of a reward for anyone who kills any of the 12 Danish cartoonists who made the anti-Islam sketches.

“It’s murder and murder is also forbidden by the holy Quran,” Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said at a news conference with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Stoere, which has been dragged into the row after a paper there published the cartoons.

“Islam is also a religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness. That is why it is my opinion, but also the opinion of many Muslims, this is un-Islamic,” he said.

Maulana Yusuf Qureshi set the bounty of Rs 500,000 after Friday prayers at a mosque in Peshawar. Two of his congregation put up rewards of $1 million and Rs 1 million plus a car.

“If the West can place a bounty on Osama bin Laden and Zawahri we can also announce reward for killing the man who has caused this sacrilege of the Holy Prophet (pbuh),” Maulana Yousef Qureshi said, referring to the Al Qaeda chief and his Deputy, Ayman al Zawahri.

The Danish minister blamed extremists for violent protests in Muslim countries and warned that Al Qaeda would exploit the situation. Mr Moeller also noted that protests have been tapering off in many Arab countries, while escalating in Pakistan and Turkey.

“It’s the extremist forces that wish to keep it going. There is no doubt that all extremists will exploit the situation. Al Qaeda, too, will use it and fan the fire.” Mr Moeller said Denmark retains diplomatic contacts with governments in countries where it has closed embassies due to anti-Danish protests. Denmark has brought home its ambassadors from Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Indonesia, citing security risks. —Reuters/AP