A bishop takes the initiative:

In Pakistan Catholic and Muslim scholars and clerics met to study the Pope’s Regensburg speech which caused Muslims to protest. The meeting, which took place at the Bishop’s residence, is the initiative of the local bishop, Mgr Joseph Coutts, and Fr Aftab James Paul, director of Interfaith Dialogue and Ecumenism for the diocese of Faisalabad. A committee was formed that includes Bishop Coutts himself, two Catholic priests, four ulemas and another Muslim, Pir Muhammad Ibrahim.

In opening the meeting, Mgr Coutts expressed his “joy” to see Muslims and Christians together, but at the same time “sadness” for the overall misunderstanding of what the Pope said in Germany.

“We wanted this meeting,” he said, “to clarify with our Muslim brothers the meaning of what the Pope said.

And Syria’s Grand Mufti:

“The clarifications supplied by the Pope are more than sufficient, although I would ask for, if possible, more explanation.”  With these words, the Sunni Grand Mufti of the Arab republic of Syria, Ahmad Badr El Din El Hassoun summed up a meeting yesterday – Tuesday – with the Apostolic Nuncio of Syria, Mgr Giovanni Morandini. In a statement to AsiaNews, he added: “The disapproval of Pope Benedict XVI and his bitterness after the recent reactions are more than an ‘apology’ for us and a great sign of respect towards the Islamic world.” El Hassoun called on “all to respect this great personality, Pope Benedict XVI.”

The Grand Mufti also thanked the Apostolic Nuncio for bringing a message of brotherhood and peace and said the latest position of the Holy See – expressed by the Pope himself, by the Secretary of State, by the Vatican Press Office and by some religious leaders – should be viewed as an expression of the “good intentions reigning in the hearts of Christian brothers”.

But the president of Pakistan gets his digs in a speech before the UN:

The Pakistani leader called for a two-pronged strategy of "enlightened moderation" so that terrorism is tackled head on while at the same time the international community strives to resolve conflicts in the Islamic world.

"We also need to bridge, through dialogue and understanding, the growing divide between the Islamic and Western worlds. In particular, it is imperative to end racial and religious discrimination against Muslims and to prohibit the defamation of Islam. It is most disappointing to see personalities of high standing oblivious of Muslim sensitivities at these critical moments."