The Italian reform minister who angered Muslims by wearing a T-shirt decorated with Western media cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad () has resigned.

Roberto Calderoli stepped down a day after rioting outside the Italian consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi led to at least 10 deaths.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had also urged him to go.

The cartoons, first published by a Danish newspaper in September, have angered Muslims across the world.

During a sixth day of protests in Pakistan, four protesters were wounded after police reportedly opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators throwing stones and trying to burn down shops in the eastern town of Chaniot.

The cartoons, published by Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, have since been reprinted by several other European publications. They include an image portraying Muhammad () with a bomb in his turban.

Islamic tradition strictly prohibits any depiction of Allah or the Prophet.

Libyan minister suspended

Calderoli, of the anti-immigration Northern League party, said he had decided to hand in his resignation "out of a sense of responsibility and certainly not because it was demanded by the government and the opposition".

"I don't intend to allow further shameful manipulation of the kind which has been recently been brought to bear against me, and against the Northern League, from members of the government," the 49-year-old said.

At least 10 people were killed and several wounded as Libyan police tried to stop an angry protest of hundreds of demonstrators outside the Italian consulate in Benghazi on Friday.

According to police, the crowd splintered off from a larger, peaceful demonstration in the centre of the city and headed towards the consulate.

The Italian foreign ministry said protesters broke into the grounds and set the first floor of the building on fire.

The Libyan government blamed what it called a small irresponsible group that it said did not reflect the Libyan spirit.

Libyan Interior Minister Nasr al-Mabrouk was suspended on Saturday and referred for investigation into police actions during the rioting.

"We condemn the excessive use of force and the inappropriate way that went beyond the limits of carrying out the duties of the police," said a statement from the parliamentary secretariat.

PHOTO CAPTION

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gestures as he makes a speech during a political meeting in Verona February 18, 2006. (REUTERS)

BBC