Britain arrests five over Muslim cartoon protest

LONDON, Mar 15 (Reuters) British police said they had arrested five men today over angry protests held in London last month about the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad by European media.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Danish embassy on February 3 waving placards with slogans such as ''Massacre those who insult Islam'' and ''Europe you will pay, your 9/11 will come.'' The spontaneous demonstration attracted widespread political condemnation and the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain called for those involved to be prosecuted.

London's Metropolitan Police said four men had been arrested in the capital in connection with the protests and another in central England.

The controversial cartoons were first published in September in a Danish newspaper and were then reprinted by papers in other countries but not Britain.

The publication prompted uproar in the Islamic world, with thousands taking to the streets to protest. Many Muslims believe it is blasphemous to depict the Prophet.

Police said today's action came after detectives had studied footage of the London protest and consulted with prosecutors over whether there was enough evidence to press criminal charges.

Some of those on the march had waved banners praising the July 7 London bombings which killed 52 people on the transport network last year. A marcher who dressed as a suicide bomber was later arrested and returned to jail for breaking his parole conditions.

REUTERS HS BS1520