ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan condemned on Thursday the publication in a Swedish newspaper of a drawing of the Prophet Mohammad on the body of a dog, calling it offensive and blasphemous.

The Swedish local daily Nerikes Allehanda published the drawing, part of a series by Swedish artist Lars Vilks, last Friday after art galleries had declined to display it. The newspaper argued the publication was a defence of free speech.

Cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad published in Denmark, and later reprinted in European newspapers, sparked widespread anger and deadly protests in several Muslim countries, including Pakistan, in early 2006.

Muslims believe images of the Prophet are forbidden. Muslims also consider dogs to be impure.

"Regrettably, the tendency among some Europeans to mix the freedom of expression with an outright and deliberate insult to 1.3 billion Muslims in the world is on the rise," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Such acts deeply undermine the efforts of those who seek to promote respect and understanding among religions and civilisations," it said.

The Swedish charge d'affaires was summoned to the ministry and a strong protest was lodged with him, the ministry said.

A spokesman for Sweden's Foreign Ministry said the charge d'affaires, Lennart Holst, met an official from the European department of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

Spokesman Andre Mkandawire said Holst gave an account of how freedom of expression was viewed in Sweden and expressed regret that the publication had hurt the feelings of Muslims.

On Monday, Iran's state broadcaster said Iran had summoned Sweden's charge d'affaires to deliver a protest about the drawing.

The newspaper this week defended the publication, saying the right to freedom of religion and the right to blaspheme religions go together.