Excerpt:
In an interview with German public radio, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich distanced himself from previous remarks that had upset some Muslims in Germany and said Muslims do indeed belong in German society.
Friedrich took over the interior minister portfolio earlier this month in a cabinet shuffle and promptly stirred up resentment with comment on the integration of Germany's Muslims, which make up 5 percent of the population.
At the time, he said there was no historical evidence to support the idea that Islam belonged in Germany.