WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Bush called on Wednesday for an end to the violence worldwide triggered by the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

    "I call upon the governments around the world to stop the violence, to be respectful, to protect property, protect the lives of innocent diplomats who are serving their countries overseas," Bush told the media during a brief joint public appearance with Jordanian King Abdullah II in the Oval Office.

    "We reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press," Bush said.

    Bush made the remarks after the cartoons, which were first published by Danish daily Jyllands-Poste and later reprinted in some other European press, had provoked violent protests in the Muslim world. Enditem