UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the offensive anti-Islam Internet video that ignited world-wide protests was "disgraceful and shameful." Calling freedom of expression and assembly "inalienable" rights, Ban said Wednesday that they "must be guaranteed and protected when they are used for common justice, common purpose."

"When some people use this freedom of expression to provoke or humiliate some others' values and beliefs, then this cannot be protected in such a way," Ban added, speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. "Freedom of expression, while it is a fundamental right and privilege, should not be abused by such people, by such a disgraceful and shameful act."

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012