Cartoon row kills Danish PM?s visit

Rasmussen was told to wait, as the controversy would overshadow the visit, reports NR Chaudhury.

The Indian government diplomatically dissuaded Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen from visiting India around the end of this month, saying the controversy surrounding the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed would overshadow the visit.

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Rasmussen's visit had been proposed by Denmark "well before" the controversy over the cartoons erupted worldwide. After protests erupted in India and other countries in the region -- even causing the deaths of four persons in Lucknow -- it was not deemed wise to go ahead with the visit.

Sources say the issue did not cause a diplomatic incident bilaterally, and it became easier to call off the visit because it had not actually been announced. Copenhagen sent word that Rasmussen would now visit at a more mutually convenient time.