WAN, the global association of the world’s press, expressed support for the Swedish publishing community, which has rallied behind artist Lars Vilke and Editor Ulf Johansson of the Nerikes Allehanda newspaper, which published the cartoon to draw attention to threats to freedom of expression in Sweden.

The cartoon sparked angry reactions in the Arab world, culminating in a bounty being offered by Al Qaeda in Iraq for the murders of Mr Vilke and Mr Johansson.

"While appreciating that the publication of the drawing may have caused offence to many Muslims, WAN emphasizes that the Nerikes Allehanda enjoys full freedom of expression and that a choice to publish the drawing falls within that right and should be duly respected," the Paris-based WAN said.

The full statement said:

"The World Association of Newspapers strongly condemns the Al-Qaeda death warrant issued against a Swedish artist and a newspaper editor following the publication of a drawing portraying the Prophet Mohammed as a dog.

"WAN, the global organisation of the world’s press, fully supports the Swedish publishing community’s defence of its right to freedom of expression with regards to Islam or any other religion, particularly when the religion is an essential element of the global political debate.

"The picture of the Prophet was drawn by Swedish artist Lars Vilke and published in connection to an editorial about freedom of expression by Ulf Johansson, editor-in-chief of the local Nerikes Allehanda newspaper.

"While appreciating that the publication of the drawing may have caused offence to many Muslims, WAN emphasizes that the Nerikes Allehanda enjoys full freedom of expression and that a choice to publish the drawing falls within that right and should be duly respected.

"The publication of the drawing sparked angry reactions throughout the Arab world, culminating in a death warrant against Johansson and Vilke, issued by Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

"In the editorial, Johansson expressed dismay over the fact that several art galleries had refused to show Vilke’s drawing of the Prophet, due to concerns about how the Muslim community might react. ’Art galleries let themselves be frightened by a diffuse threat. This sends a signal that it is easy to silence people through scaring them,’ he wrote."

WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 76 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10 regional and world-wide press groups.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr.