Mr Kasuri said that Muslim rage was universal

Khurshid Kasuri said that the allegations had provoked outrage throughout the Islamic world.

At least seven people died and many more were hurt in protests in Afghanistan this week over the issue.

The US has described the incident as abhorrent, and pledged prompt action if the allegations prove to be true.

A number of protest rallies were held in Pakistan on Friday.

'Outraged Muslims'

"Yes, it's abominable the reports that emanated from Guantanamo Bay," Mr Kasuri said during a three day diplomatic tour of Australia.

"It's unthinkable that someone could be so debased, inhuman, depraved as to provoke the feelings of not just those people there (in Guantanamo) but all over the Muslim world.

Protests in Pakistan have been relatively low key

"I have no doubt that the entire Muslim world is outraged. So I urge the United States administration to take very strong action against the culprits."

Mr Kasuri said while the US had "distanced itself" from the allegations, their seriousness required firm action.

He said that was especially the case in the light of similar allegations of prisoner abuse at the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.

Unconditional apology

"In order to send a message, particularly about prison abuses ... I hope this time they take a much stronger action because the indignation and rage is universal."

"Even the worst enemy of the United States could not harm the image of the United States in the Muslim world as effectively as they've done if this is correct," he said.

There were demonstrations over the issue in several Pakistani cities after prayers on Friday, following days of protests and riots in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The US says it will investigate alleged Guantanamo abuses

The protests were organised by the six-party Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance which called on the US to issue an unconditional apology or else it would step up its campaign to have the American ambassador expelled form the country.

But the BBC's Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad says that the protests were relatively small and largely peaceful.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, a leader of an opposition religious coalition, told worshippers at a packed mosque in Islamabad: "By insulting the Koran, they have challenged our belief. "We are hurt ... If we don't rise against Americans, if we don't give them a strong message today, they will do it again."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meanwhile appealed to Muslims to resist calls for violence, and promised that her country was investigating the allegations.

Ms Rice said on Thursday that desecration was abhorrent and disrespect for the Koran would not be tolerated.

The outrage in Afghanistan and Pakistan followed reports in Newsweek magazine that interrogators at the US Guantanamo Bay prison had flushed at least one copy of the Koran down a toilet.

Insulting the Koran or the Prophet Muhammad is regarded as blasphemy and punishable by death in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.