EC President Jose Manuel Barrosoa (file photo) (epa)
15 February 2006 -- The president of the European Commission today said that while peaceful protests over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad would be acceptable, violent protest harm relations between Europe and the Islamic world.
Jose Manuel Barroso made his remarks at a session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
"Freedom of speech is part of Europe's values and traditions," Barroso said. "Let me be clear: Freedom of speech is not negotiable. Like all freedoms, its preservation depends on responsible use by individuals."
Barroso also said that freedom of speech has limits, and those limits are defined and enforced by EU laws.
Meanwhile, despite diplomatic efforts to defuse the row over the caricatures, thousands of people continued to protest violently in Pakistan. Police said three died and 45 were injured.
Protests also were held in the Philippines, where Muslim protesters burned the Danish flag outside the Danish consulate in the capital Manila.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is on a Middle East tour to try and defuse the row over the cartoons.
