After wishy-washy comments from Condi Rice concerning the 12 Mohammad cartoons, finally a strong reply from a U.S. newspaper. “The Philadelphia Inquirer, one of the few U.S. newspapers to publish a caricature of the Prophet Mohammad from a series that sparked a wave of protests by Muslims, defended the action on Sunday by saying it was just doing its job.”

“This is the kind of work that newspapers are in business to do,” said Amanda Bennett, the newspaper’s editor.

The Inquirer on Saturday published the most controversial image, which depicted the Prophet with a turban resembling a lit bomb, and it posted on its Web site an Internet link to the rest of the cartoons.

The Inquirer included a note with its publication of the image which read, in part, “The Inquirer intends no disrespect to the religious beliefs of any of its readers. But when a use of religious imagery that many find offensive becomes a major news story, we believe it is important for readers to be able to judge the content of the image for themselves.”

The note compared the image with the earlier publication of a 1987 photograph by Andres Serrano of a crucifix in urine, a work which angered many Christians.

Most U.S. news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today, have declined to run any of the images so far, instead describing them in words as they cover the outraged reaction by Muslims to the cartoons.

Meanwhile, Lebanon minister quits over riot.

Lebanese Interior Minister Hassan Sabeh resigned after demonstrators set fire to Beirut’s Danish embassy on Saturday.

“A few minutes ago I put my resignation at the disposal of the cabinet. I didn’t wait for an answer and left the meeting,” Mr Sabeh said.

Danes living in Lebanon have been told to leave the country or stay indoors.

Rocket's Brain Trust linked with CARTOON WAR - US Newspaper Finally Steps Up...