"I have to go to the NATO summit," Erdogan said in Istanbul, noting that the pope, as head of state of the Vatican, would be meeting President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Turkish head of state.

Explaining that as prime minister it was impossible for him to pull out of the NATO summit, Erdogan said he had held many meetings with religious leaders.

"There is nothing else in this," Erdogan said.

Italian newspaper commentators had earlier speculated that Erdogan's decision to avoid meeting the pope during his visit to Turkey between Nov 28 and Dec 1 was based on internal political considerations.

The speculation was that Erdogan, leader of a moderate Islamic party, did not want to be seen with the pope as it may upset more conservative voters ahead of elections scheduled for 2007.

The pope upset many Muslims earlier this year when he quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who described Islam as a religion spread by the sword. The pope has since expressed regret that the remarks had offended Muslims. DPA

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