ROME, Feb. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday condemned the cartoon images of the Prophet Mohammad in a bid to mend strained ties with Libya, after 11 people died in anti-Italian protests in the north African country last week.

    The cartoons in a number of European newspapers, which includeda picture of Mohammad with a turban drawn as a bomb, "hurt the feelings of the (Muslim) faithful," Berlusconi told the pan-Arab al-Jazeera satellite station in an interview to be broadcast lateron Wednesday.

    "Satire must not be disrespectful," he said, adding, "We can only condemn them."

    Berlusconi on Saturday demanded the resignation of Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli, who on Thursday wore a T-shirt printedwith the drawings of the Prophet which first appeared in a Danish newspaper.

    Eleven people were killed late on Friday when rioters torched Italy's consulate in the city of Benghazi in a violent demonstration involving an estimated 1,000 people.

    Libya blamed the violence on the "provocative and outrageous" anti-Islamic insults of Calderoli.

    Following Calderoli's resignation on Saturday, Berlusconi phoned Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi to discuss the incident and express his regret.

    A note from the Italian Premier's office said the two agreed that "this serious episode must not in any way negatively affect the friendly relations between Italy and Libya."

    The anti-Italian violence is the first action against Italy in a Muslim country since 12 controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad were first published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September, sparking violence in many Muslims countries. Enditem