STOCKHOLM, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Four months after publication of caricatures of the prophet Mohammed, Denmark's largest daily newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, apologized to the Muslim world, Ritzau news bureau reported on Wednesday.

    The newspaper said it never intended to harm the feelings of Muslims, and that it had published the cartoons as part of an ongoing public debate on freedom of expression.

    The 12 cartoons were published by Jyllands-Posten in September. One showed prophet Mohammed wearing a turban shaped as a bomb, according to the report.

    "In our opinion, the 12 drawings were sober. They were not intended to be offensive, nor were they at variance with Danish law, but they have indisputably offended many Muslims, for which we apologize," wrote editor-in-chief Carsten Juste in an open letter to all Muslims published on the newspaper's website.  

    Jyllands-Posten's apology came as a boycott of Danish goods that began last week spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and to Pakistan.

    Some Muslims, who deem images of prophets disrespectful and caricatures blasphemous, have reacted angrily, calling for goods boycotts and demanding an apology.

    Saudi Arabia has recalled its envoy from Denmark, and thousands of Palestinians marched in protest on Monday.

    Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has repeatedly stated that the matter is a free speech issue, and something that is beyond his powers to influence.

    "A Danish government cannot say 'sorry' for a Danish newspaper," Rasmussen said on Monday.

    Nevertheless, Rasmussen did take steps to distance himself from the drawings: "My personal respect for people's religious beliefs means that I would never represent Mohammed, Jesus, or another religious figure in a way that would offend others."  Enditem