UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

REUTERS

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

The film, posted on the Internet under several titles including "Innocence of Muslims," mocked the Prophet Mohammad and portrayed him as a womanizer and a fool, reports Reuters.

It sparked days of deadly anti-American violence in many Muslim countries, including an assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in Libya in which the U.S. ambassador died.

"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.

A California man convicted of bank fraud was taken in for questioning on Saturday by U.S. authorities investigating possible probation violations stemming from the making of the video. He has denied involvement in the film and has now gone into hiding.

Meanwhile, the UN secretary general has said a military solution is not the answer to the Syrian conflict, though both government and rebels seem determined to defeat each other by force.

Ban Ki-moon said it was "troubling" that no end was in sight, and called for political dialogue.

He was speaking as heavy fighting continued in the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo.

Activists said government forces had stormed a southern suburb of Damascus.

The situation for residents in Hajar al-Aswad was said to be desperate.

State media said troops had killed many of what they called "terrorists".