EU says don't take pope comments out of context

BRUSSELS, Sep 18 (Reuters) The European Commission said today that Pope Benedict's recent comments on Islam should not be taken out of context and the furore they provoked must not endanger free speech.

''In the Commission's view, any reaction must be based on what was actually said and not on quotes being taken out of context and even less on quotes being deliberately taken out of context,'' said Johannes Laitenberger, spokesman for the Brussels-based executive of the European Union.

''Reactions that are disproportionate and tantamount to rejecting freedom of speech are unacceptable. Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of EU order,'' he told a regular briefing.

The German-born Pope angered Muslims around the world last week by using a medieval quotation on Islam and violence in a speech. The Pope said yesterday he was deeply sorry that Muslims were offended by the comment, but his words failed to quell the fury of some Islamic groups demanding a full apology.

The Commission said earlier this year that freedom of speech should not be threatened by the uproar among Muslims over the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper caricaturing the prophet Mohammad.

REUTERS SSC HT1752