(dpa) - Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen called on the Islamic world to be level-headed in its response to the anti- Islam film made by opposition populist politician Geert Wilders in an interview published in an Arab newspaper.
"Let's keep a cool head and warm relations," Verhagen was quoted as saying in Asharq al-Awsat, which is read in many Arab countries.
The Dutch government has been concerned about violent anti-Dutch protests in Islamic countries after the 16-minute film, which warns of radical Islam and the alleged "Islamization" of the Netherlands, appeared on the internet on Thursday.
"Criticism can not be a justification for aggression and threats, even when it is hurtful," Verhagen said.
The Dutch foreign minister again distanced his government from the text of the film, which he said made generalizations and was polarizing.
The film, called Fitna, which means the split between believers and infidels, draws direct parallels between the text of the Koran and the terrorist acts and violence carried out by Muslim extremists.
"Instead of offering solutions to the challenges of today, the film only fans fears and incites sections of the population against each other," he was quoted as saying.