Iran says Pope apology "good gesture", not enough

TEHRAN, Sep 18 (Reuters) Pope Benedict's speech saying he regretted the uproar over his remarks on Islam was a ''good gesture'' but not enough, the Iranian government spokesman said today.

''Mr Pope's move to say that his remarks had been conveyed in the wrong way was a good gesture and a necessary explanation but it is not enough,'' Gholamhossein Elham told a weekly news conference.

The Pope said yesterday he was deeply sorry Muslims were offended by his use of a medieval quotation on Islam and said it did not represent his personal view.

Elham demanded a clearer apology.

''It is necessary that he expresses more clearly and frankly that his remarks had been conveyed wrongly and correct them as soon as possible,'' Elham said.

The Pope's first big crisis since his election 17 months ago was sparked by a speech in Germany on Tuesday when he repeated criticism of the Prophet Mohammad by the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said everything the Prophet brought was evil.

The remarks outraged Muslims worldwide and sparked protests and attacks on churches in several Arab towns.

Numerous religious seminaries in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran were closed yesterday and about 500 Iranian theological school students rallied in the holy city of Qom to protest at the lecture.

REUTERS SSC HT1710