Gaza gunmen warn Danes

Gaza: Palestinian gunmen on Monday warned that Danish and Norwegian visitors in Gaza risk attack unless their governments apologise for published cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.

Danish paper Jyllands-Posten published "blasphemous" cartoons of Prophet Mohammed last year, sparking outrage and calls for boycott of Danish products across the Muslim world.

The Danish government had issued an internet statement on Sunday, asking its citizens to be cautious in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Israel.

"In the present situation, where the Jyllands-Posten daily's drawings of the Prophet Muhammad has caused strong negative feelings among Muslims, Danes should show extra vigilance," the statement read.

Ten armed Palestinians rallied outside the European Union headquarters in Gaza City, firing in the air and demanding an apology from the Danish and Norwegian governments.

"We warn the citizens of the above-mentioned governments against not taking this warning seriously because our groups are ready to implement it across the Gaza Strip," one of the gunmen said, reading from a prepared statement.

The Danish government has defended the cartoons, saying that Jyllands-Posten is an independent newspaper that utilised its right of free speech.