APELDOORN, 12/11/09 - The leader of the smallest Christian party SGP in the province of Gelderland, E. Klein, has taken back critical statements on Islam. He did so under pressure from the local conservative (VVD) and centre-left (D66) parties, regional media reported yesterday.

Klein declared last Friday that he would rather see no mosques, and that "Islam has produced nothing good so far". He was speaking at a meeting on freedom of education, organised by the VVD.

The local SGP leader said yesterday at a meeting of the provincial council that he "wholeheartedly takes back" his words. The VVD and D66 in Gelderland had demanded this. According to the VVD, Klein had "disqualified Islamic fellow-politicians in the council" by the statement that Islam brings nothing good.

The local Christian democratic (CDA) and Labour (PvdA) party leaders were surprised by Klein's remarks. But they considered they were covered by freedom of speech.