Remove Pope Benedict: Pak Muslim organisation

LAHORE, Pakistan, Sep 21: A convention of Muslim clerics organised by a charity that Washington has branded a terrorist group called today for the removal of Pope Benedict for fuelling enmity between faiths with his comments about Islam last week.

''Pope Benedict should be removed from his position immediately for encouraging war and fanning hostility between various faiths,'' said a declaration issued at the end of the convention attended by hundreds of clerics in the central Pakistani city of Lahore.

The declaration was given by Tehrik-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool, (Movement for Respect of Prophet), but the convention had been organised by Jamaat ud-Dawa, a charity Washington branded as terrorist in April for its ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group focused on fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.

The gathering was held at Jamaat ud-Dawa's headquarters.

Pakistan put the charity on a watch list after the US move, and in recent weeks placed under house arrest its leader, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who founded and led Lashkar until Islamabad banned it in 2002.

A speech by the Pope, in which he used medieval quotes portraying a violent Islam , has provoked al Qaeda groups to declare war on the Church, Iraqis to burn the Pope's effigy and Turks to petition for his arrest.

''The Pope and all infidels should know that no Muslim, under any circumstances, can tolerate an insult to the Prophet. If the West does not change its stance against Islam, it will face severe consequences,'' said the declaration.

''Jihad for the sake of Allah is not terrorism. Jihad is waged to rid an area, state or the world of oppression, violence, cruelty and terrorism and bring peace and relief to the people,'' it added.

Pakistan is under pressure from both the United States, its ally in the war on terrorism, and India, the neighbour it is trying to make peace with after decades of enmity, to clamp down harder on militant groups.

The statement against the Pope could prove awkward for President Pervez Musharraf who is due to meet President George W Bush tomorrow.

Reuters