Following are excerpts from a speech by Hizbullah Secretary-General Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, which aired on Al-Manar TV on February 9, 2006:

Sheik Nasrallah: Today, we are defending the honor of our Prophet, with words, with demonstrations, with our voices. But George Bush, and everyone else in that world of arrogance, should know that if we are forced to defend our Prophet with our blood, we will defend our Prophet with our blood. We will say to him – not with our voices, but with our blood – we respond to your call, oh Messenger of Allah.

The defense of the Prophet must continue all over the world. Condoleeza Rice, Bush, and all the tyrants should shut up. We are a nation that cannot show tolerance, remain silent, or be negligent when they are offending the honor of our Prophet and of our holy places.

Today, efforts are being made to settle this crisis, while others are escalating the attack – more newspapers in more countries in Europe. There cannot be a settlement before there is an apology, and before laws are legislated by the European Parliament and the parliaments of the European countries that will grant legal protection. It is the responsibility of the heads of state in the World Muslim Congress to demand legislation that will be binding on the press and the media in the West that will prevent the humiliation of our Prophet.