Washington, Sept 22 (ZEENEWS.COM) US President George W Bush on Thursday defended Pope Benedict XVI's attempts to explain recent remarks about Islam that were deemed deeply insulting by many Muslims around the world.

"I was appreciative of the fact that he tried to clarify what he meant," the US President said in a television interview.

"This is a struggle not between religions - and that's what people have got to understand," he said.

"It's a struggle between people who use religion to kill - and those of US who are for peace," Bush said, noting that at times the "issue gets muddied up" and "confuses people."

"People say it's a struggle of civilizations. I strongly disagree with that. I think this is a struggle for civilization," the US President continued.

"And, to the sense the Pope clarified the issue, I think it helps those of US who are trying to make it clear to the Muslim world in particular - we're not fighting Islam," he said.

"We're protecting ourselves, and trying to help you (the interviewer) protect yourself against people who kill in the name of religion to achieve a political objective."

Pope Benedict, in a September 12 speech in his native Germany, quoted a medieval text criticizing some teachings of the Prophet Mohammed as "evil and inhuman."

The remarks by the head of the Roman Catholic Church sparked protests in Muslim countries, prompting the pontiff to say he was "deeply sorry" for any offense and attributing Muslim anger over his speech to an "unfortunate misunderstanding."