What Muslim Leaders are saying

The United States has been clear about how it thinks leaders should react to the anti-American violence in Libya, Yemen and Egypt this week. The chaos has been spurred on in part by a movie posted on YouTube that unflatteringly portrays Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday there should be no debate that bloodshed in response to speech is not acceptable.

"Any responsible leader should be standing up now and drawing that line," she said.

But is it really that simple?

Here's a look at the reactions from key regional leaders since the violence started -- and what their words could really signify.

What Morsy may be saying: The Egyptian leader's modified statement came a day after Obama hinted at where things stand between the countries. "I don't think we would consider Egypt an ally, but we don't consider them an enemy," Obama said. (Learn more about the tenuous Egypt-U.S. relationship)

Morsy, who took over as Egyptian president in June, had to do two things in order to appease the Islamists who voted him into power and to seem sensitive to the United States' loss, said Omar Ashour, the director of Middle East Studies at the University of Exeter in the U.K.

"Morsy is skating on thin ice already with Islamists," he said, referring to an already tense domestic situation involving a continuing effort with Israel to beef up security of the Sinai Peninsula, a move Islamists do not like.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai: While Obama said he and Karzai are committed to preventing similar violence in Afghanistan. Karzai's statement about the violence wasn't focused on condemning the violence as much as condemning the movie. He called it a "heinous" and "evil act" that has created "outrage and anxiety for all peace-loving humans who back up the idea of peaceful coexistence."

Karzai accused the movie's alleged producer, a mystery man using the name Sam Bacile, and American pastor Terry Jones of committing an act of "desecration" which is "not a part of the freedom of expression, but a criminal act that has now badly affected the righteous sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims all over the globe."

But, Karzai noted, the men represent a "radical minority."

"Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was the greatest prophet of Islam, a prophet sent to guide mankind, a pacifist and promoter of truth and honesty in the world," Karzai said. "In fact, insult to the greatest Prophet of Islam means insult to high values of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world."

"This offensive act has stoked inter-faith enmity and confrontation and badly impacted the peaceful coexistence between human beings."

Kazai demanded that the film not be released.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki: Iraq's leader since 2006 said the movie on YouTube insulted "religious sanctities by some suspicious people and groups deserves the strongest condemnation and denunciation."

He said the clip on YouTube is "devoid of any values but abusing of Muslims sanctities and their noble values."

He urged a "quarantine" of "the racists" (behind the clip) in order to "stop them from spreading ... their dangerous thoughts." He then said that people should "refrain from resorting to violence and exercise the principles of Islam and its civilized values."

More reactions

Other leaders in the region have weighed in, and their comments tend to focus on the movie, rather than the violence.

Jordan's parliament members released a statement saying it rejects "any insult against Islamic belief and religious symbols."

"Islam, which has great respect for other monotheistic religions, prohibit insult to any prophet or other any religion," the statement said.

In Lebanon, influential former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the film "deliberately offends Islam and the Prophet Muhammad" and said "the suspicious attempts behind it ... stir up hatred and discord between religions and peoples at a time when we are working to build bridges of dialogue, understanding and mutual respect.

Hariri also denounced the violent reactions against the movie, the murder of the U.S. ambassador and the attacks that targeted U.S. embassies and consulates in many regions.

"Such brutal and violent practices and attacks offend Muslims just as this suspicious film offended Islam," he said. "They are also detrimental to the Arab Spring path in general and give free excuses and justifications to the enemies of this promising path, in order to discredit it and disable its constructive effects in implementing democracy, freedom and dignity of the Arab peoples."

Pakistani's Foreign Ministry also released a statement saying that the video has "deeply hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims all over the world."