ISLAMABAD, March 2: Ulema belonging to different schools of thought have urged US President George W. Bush to help defuse tension arising out of the publication of blasphemous caricatures in western media.

Speaking at a press conference, they called upon the United Nations to develop a code of conduct barring all sort of acts that might hurt religious sentiments of the people.

The ulema, including Tehrik-i-Akhuwat-i-Islami Chairman Allama Inayat Ali Shakir, Mufti Abdul Qavi, Allama Prof Ejaz Mohammad Qadri, Allama Hasan Ali Najafi and Allama Mujahid Hussain Kazmi, said it was the right of every Muslim to protest the publication of blasphemous cartoons which had all the potential to adversely affect efforts for inter-faith harmony.

They, however, stressed that the protest should neither have the element of violence nor should be used to achieve political mileage.