Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wednesday called for moderation in public statements regarding the controversy that emerged following Pope Benedict XVI's polemical remarks on the Islam.

"People playing outstanding roles should be very careful in their words," the Iranian ruler told the US network MSNBC. "The Pope's works could give some groups a reason to start a war," he added, as quoted by DPA.

Ahmadinejad closed the chapter of the Pope's statements. "I think the Pope has taken back his words already."