COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Iraqi religious and political leaders held a meeting in Denmark last week and condemned Danish newspapers for reprinting a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad (S).

A declaration issued by delegates at the conference in Copenhagen called it "an offence to all Muslims."

Danish newspapers reprinted it some days back in a gesture for free speech after three men were arrested in an alleged plot to kill the cartoonist who created the drawing.

The participants said the decision by more than a dozen Danish newspapers to reprint the drawing was 'irresponsible' and 'offensive.'

The declaration said it condemned the "irresponsible behavior" from some Danish media institutions under the cover of freedom of expression.

Representatives from Sunni, Shiite and Christian groups in Iraq met at the conference organized by the Lutheran diocese of Copenhagen and the London-based Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.

Iraq's human rights minister Wijdan Salim also took part.