Muslim groups have been responding to the personal statement from Pope Benedict XVI expressing deep regret over the offence caused by a speech he made in Germany last week.
Yesterday, Pope Benedict tried to calm Muslim anger over his remarks on Islam, saying he was deeply sorry about the reaction and that medieval text he used about holy wars did not reflect his personal views.
In a controversial speech six days ago, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammed had brought the world only 'evil and inhuman' things.
In his first appearance since the speech, the Pontiff said he hoped the statement would clarify the situation.
Dr Azzam Tamimi, Director of the Institute of Islamic Political Thought in London, said that two decades of hard work by the Vatican had been undone by the incident.
In a statement, the Hamas-led Palestinian government said it did not view the Pope's statement as an apology.
However, Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, strongly criticised attacks on Catholic churches in the West Bank.
Following a third day of attacks, Mr Haniyeh called on Palestinians to exercise restraint.
Meanwhile, an Italian nun was shot dead at a children's hospital in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, yesterday in an incident it is thought may have been linked to the Pope's comments.
A nun from the Missionaries order identified her as sister Leonella Sgorbati, born in 1940, in Piacenza in northern Italy.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi denounced the killing as a 'horrible act'.
