"The Iraqi government condemns the offense and the lack of respect expressed by the Danish publication and insists on the necessity of respecting the feelings and religious beliefs of Muslims," Zebari was quoted as saying.

The ministry, in a statement, said Zebari in his meeting with ambassador Kristian Oldenburg also called for the Danish government to "take initiatives regarding Arab countries and Muslims to resolve this crisis".

On the bilateral front, however, he welcomed Copenhagen's decision last week to renew the mandate of its 530 soldiers posted in Iraq as part of the US-led multinational force.

On September 30, Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons entitled "The faces of Mohammed", provoking a firestorm of anger in the Muslim world.

The controversy was further ignited by the decision of a Norwegian magazine to reprint the cartoons on January 10.

An Iraqi militant group purportedly called Monday on its members to attack any reachable Danish and Norwegian targets, in response to the publishing of the cartoons.

Copenhagen, which has so far refused to apologise for the cartoons and defended freedom of expression, has started taking measures to protect its citizens living in Muslim countries.

The editor of the Danish newspaper at the root of the crisis apologised on Monday.