Turkish PM repeats criticism of Pope's Islam remarks

ISTANBUL, Sep 27 (Reuters) Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan repeated today his criticism of comments made by Pope Benedict about Islam that sparked Muslim protests and said even a politician would not have spoken in such a way.

Benedict, who is due to visit mainly Muslim but secular Turkey in November, has said he regretted hurting Muslims' feelings in a speech earlier this month which used a medieval quotation linking the spread of the Islamic faith to violence.

Erdogan, a pious Muslim who served a short jail sentence once for reciting a poem deemed Islamist by Turkey's secular authorities, said everybody, especially public figures such as the Pope, should show respect for other religions and cultures.

''The Pope is both a political and religious figure. But this person spoke in a way that is unfitting even for us politicians,'' Erdogan told an economic conference in Istanbul.

''When disrespect was shown for my Prophet (Mohammad) we could not tolerate this.'' Erdogan described the comments at the time as ''ugly and unfortunate'' and called for a papal apology.

''We love Jesus and Moses as much as our own Prophet. Nobody should try to meddle with our religion. The Pope made this mistake,'' Erdogan said. Muslims also revere Jesus Christ and Moses as prophets sent by God.

Echoing criticism from other Muslims that Benedict has not retracted his words, Erdogan said the Pope had made only ''some manoeuvres'' which could be interpreted as a step back.

''Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue. I think our president will say the necessary things in his meeting with the Pope,'' Erdogan added.

Benedict upset Turkey even before becoming Pope by publicly opposing Ankara's bid to join the European Union. He is due to visit Ankara, Istanbul and the ancient site of Ephesus as a guest of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on November. 28 to December. 1.

REUTERS AB RK2005