A Syrian religious leader on Saturday criticized the protestors for burning Danish and Norwegian embassies to vent anger at publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad in newspapers of the two countries.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Badr al-Dean Hassoun expressed sorrow over the way some people exploited in the protest, the official SANA news agency reported.

"We feel sadness over what some people did, ... driven by their emotions in which they impaired our dialogue with the Danish and Norwegian peoples," Hassoun was quoted as saying.

He noted that the Danish ambassador brought him an official letter from the Danish Prime Minister three days ago, in which he apologized and expressed regret over what some Danish newspapers did.

"We had already accepted the apology, and agreed that the Danish newspaper concerned would publish articles ... on the noble attributes and traits of the Prophet Mohammad so that we don't reach the stage of conflict or lose friendship with our friends in Europe who support Arab rights," he added.

Hassoun said the protest started in a "civilized way" on Saturday, which was "unfortunately was turned by some rioters, who don't know the language of dialogue, into damage and arson".

Syrian Minister of Islamic Endowments Mohammad Ziyad al-Ayoubi also criticized the protestors' violent behavior.

Hundreds of Syrian demonstrators stormed and set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus Saturday afternoon and then moved to the French embassy, but were broke up by the riot police using tear gas and water cannons.

The cartoons were first published by the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, last September and republished in Norway and other European countries last month.

One of the cartoons depicts the prophet wearing a turban shaped like a bomb.

Damascus has recalled its ambassador to Denmark for consultation over the matter, SANA said Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the cartoons as an offense to Muslims and Arabs and demanded the Danish government punish the newspaper.

The Danish ambassador to Syria met late Thursday with Syria's Grand Mufti Hassoun and conveyed Denmark's apology for the offense caused by the cartoons.

SANA quoted the Danish ambassador as saying that the majority of the Danes were very sorry for this situation which the newspaper has put them into.

According to Islamic tradition, realistic depictions of prophets were prohibited and caricatures of them were considered profane.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)