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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Cartoonist Molly Norris disavows 'draw Mohammed day'


AN AMERICAN cartoonist whose work inspired the controversial "Everybody Draw Mohammed Page" on Facebook has condemned the effort and issued an apology to Muslims. Molly Norris, of Seattle, drew a cartoon in April to protest the decision by the US television channel Comedy Central to cancel an episode of the popular show South Park over its depiction of the Prophet Mohammed in a bear suit. In her cartoon, Norris satirically proposed May 20 as an "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day". An "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" page quickly turned up on Facebook but Norris, writing on her website at mollynorris.com, said she had nothing to do with it. "I did NOT 'declare' May 20 to be "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day," she said, adding that her idea was satire but "was taken seriously, hijacked and made viral". Islam strictly prohibits the depiction of any prophet as blasphemous and Muslims across the globe staged angry protests over the publication of satirical cartoons of Mohammed in European newspapers four years ago.

Obama hails Iran sanctions draft


US President Barack Obama on Wednesday hailed a UN draft plan to impose tougher sanctions on Iran and again called on the country to live up to its international obligations. A draft UN plan circulated on Tuesday proposed a modest expansion of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. The 10-page draft - agreed by the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia after months of negotiations - targets Iranian banks and calls for inspections of vessels suspected of carrying cargo related to Iran's nuclear or missile programs. At least three of the 10 non-permanent Security Council members — Brazil, Turkey and Lebanon — have expressed opposition to new sanctions. Brazil and Turkey have approached the 15 Security Council members demanding they not endorse the new sanctions.