Rushdie honour 'justifies attacks'

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Pakistan condemned the award as an affront to Muslim sentiments.

"This is an occasion for the (world's) 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision," Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, religious affairs minister, said in parliament.

"The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologises and withdraws the 'sir' title," ul-Haq said.

Pakistani politicians earlier passed a government-backed resolution demanding Britain withdraw the knighthood awarded to author Salman Rushdie. They condemned the honour as "an insult to the religious sentiments of Muslims".

In the eastern city of Multan, hard-line Muslim students burned effigies of the Queen and Rushdie. About 100 students carrying banners condemning the author also chanted, "Kill Him! Kill Him!"

On Saturday, Britain announced the knighthood for the author of The Satanic Verses in the Queen's birthday honours list.

The resolution in the lower house of parliament was proposed by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Khan Niazi who branded Mr Rushdie a "blasphemer".

"The 'sir' title from Britain for blasphemer Salman Rushdie has hurt the sentiments of the Muslims across the world. Every religion should be respected. I demand the British government immediately withdraw the title as it is creating religious hatred," Niazi told the National Assembly.

Politicians voted unanimously for the resolution although one opposition member, Khwaja Asif, said it exposed a contradiction in the government's policy as an ally of Britain in the international war on terrorism. Iran has also condemned the knighthood for Rushdie.