Pope to meet Muslim world envoys

Pope Benedict XVI is due to meet envoys from Muslim nations in an attempt to defuse a crisis in relations between the Catholic Church and Islam.

The meeting will aim for reconciliation after recent remarks made by the Pope caused outrage in the Islamic world.

He has since regretted causing offence and expressed "deep respect" for Islam.

Meanwhile, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has defended the Pope, saying more European leaders should have supported him.

"I was disappointed there were not more European leaders who said: 'Naturally, the Pope has the right to express his views'," Mr Barroso was quoted as saying in an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper. the rest