While Muslims continue to validate cartoonists, the blame begins

The violence continues in the cartoon war, and some more have weighed in on who's responsible. Previous entries included the Danish clerics who shopped the cartoons and other material around on their "Tour of Hate 2006", and the strained theory that Denmark's refusal to issue an apology for a few cartoons is to blame.

Today's entries are from Afghanistan and Iran. First, Iran's predictable view:

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Tuesday that publication of the caricatures was an Israeli conspiracy motivated by anger over the victory of the militant Hamas group in last month's Palestinian elections.

"The West condemns any denial of the Jewish Holocaust, but it permits the insult of Islamic sanctities," Khamenei said.

We also condemn denial of reality, Ali. And this somewhat more disturbing assertation from Afghanistan:

Provincial governor Mohammed Latif said he suspected al-Qaida may have had a hand in the unrest. He said two men from eastern Afghanistan were arrested during the protest and were being interrogated.

"The violence today looked like a massive uprising. It was very unusual," Latif said.

If this pans out, does it mean some tie between the Danish Imams and Al-Qaida? Just something to keep an eye on...