ONE of the biggest Muslim demonstrations in Britain is expected to take place in London this weekend.

British Muslim leaders have called for calm and are hopeful the rally, to be staged at Trafalgar Square on Saturday at 1pm, will be peaceful.

Thousands of Muslims are expected to rally against cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. In the past week newspapers across Europe have reprinted the caricatures after it first appeared in the Danish press.

First British publication

Cardiff University's student union newspaper, Gair Rhydd, became the first British newspaper to run the satirical cartoons, which have caused outrage across the Muslim world.

The union destroyed most of the 8,000 copies shortly after they were printed on Saturday, The Independent reported.

Muslim Council of Britain secretary general Sir Iqbal Sacranie said the aim of the rally was to protest against the "rising wave of xenophobia towards Muslims across Europe".

"British Muslims have been deeply hurt both by the provocative actions of the newspapers that printed these caricatures, but also by the disgraceful actions of a tiny group of extremists," he said.

"This rally will aim to help British Muslims express their feelings peacefully and will call upon the newspapers concerned to apologise for the enormous offence and distress caused to millions of Muslims across the world.

"We believe that the editors of these papers have shown huge insensitivity and an indefensible lack of judgment in this matter."

Sir Iqbal commended the vast majority of British Muslims for the restraint which they have demonstrated to date and urged them to resist provocation by extremist elements.

"All of us together must ensure that our protests remain firmly within the bounds of the law at all times," he said.