NEW JERSEY, United States: American Muslim officials said US Rep. Tom Tancredo's remarks about bombing Islamic holy sites including holy Makkah were so inflammatory and insensitive that a simple apology is not enough.

"He needs to be removed from office," said Gerald Muhammad, a Nation of Islam minister from Denver. "We're not going to stop pushing until he is censored. We can't afford to have a man like that in office."

Muhammad, who said Tancredo's comments were racist, was one of several Muslim leaders who spoke to a crowd of hundreds of people at Civic Center in Denver on Saturday afternoon for the "With Justice Comes Peace" rally.

The controversy began July 15 when the Republican congressman, asked on a Florida talk-radio show how the United States might respond to a nuclear strike by Islamic terrorists, said, "You could take out their holy sites."

When host Pat Campbell replied, "You're talking about bombing Makkah," Tancredo answered, "Yeah."

Israr Haq, 42, of Northglenn said he came to the rally because he worries that Tancredo's comments could encourage prejudice.

"He should be bringing people together, not dividing them," Haq said. "The congressman went overboard."