UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday the maker of an anti-Islam film that triggered protests across the Muslim world abused his right to freedom of expression by making the movie, which he called a "disgraceful and shameful act."

"Freedoms of expression should be and must be guaranteed and protected, when they are used for common justice, common purpose," Ban told a news conference.

"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."

"My position is that 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," he said. - AGENCIES