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Most Canadian journalists believe the media in this country should have carried controversial Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, a new poll suggested Monday.

The Compass survey asked Canadian journalists for their views on the caricatures, which have triggered deadly riots around the world.

The findings indicated that roughly seven in 10 felt at least some Canadian media outlets should have published the material in the wake of global violence.

Only a handful of media outlets in this country have carried the cartoons, which were first published in Demark last fall.

According to Monday's report, about 17 per cent of those polled felt all major Canadian media should have reprinted the images. Another 18 per cent said most media should have carried the cartoons and 25 per cent said at least some of Canada's biggest outlets should have used the caricatures.

By contrast, about 31 per cent of respondents said major media were correct in the decision not to use the material.

The publication of the cartoons – one showing the prophet wearing a turban shaped as a bomb – has led to deadly riots around the world.

In Canada, protests, however, protests have been largely peaceful.

Over the weekend, more than 2,000 people gathered outside the Ontario Legislature to protest the publication of the cartoons, which have been carried in media outlets in Quebec as well as by several student newspapers.

Two Calgary publications – the Jewish Free Press and the Western Standard – have also carried the images.

The Islamic Supreme Council of Canada has filed human-rights complaints against both. The publications have argued that publishing the images was intended to further understanding of the growing global debate over the issue.

In Monday's Compass survey, journalists were split on the rational for not publishing the cartoons, depending on their position on whether outlets should have run the caricatures in the first place.

Of those who supported non-publication, most cited respect as the reason.

The bulk of those who said the cartoons should have been carried said fear was the primary motivator for not publishing.

Still, the majority of Canadian journalists also said they had at least some concern that not publishing the cartoons increased the power of extremist groups.

Journalists were asked to score how strongly they agree with that argument on a scale of one to five, with five being the strongest point of agreement. A total of 62 per cent scored three or more on the scale.

Roughly 70 per cent of journalists who responded to the survey also said they had seen the images.

About 65 per cent of those people found them on the Internet, while 16 per cent saw then in a magazine or newspaper. Another 10 per cent viewed the drawings as a result of an e-mail from a friend and 8 per cent saw them on television.

The survey is based on a random sample of 221 journalists who were interviewed between Feb. 16 and 18. In the general population a sample of that size would be considered accurate within about 7 percentage points 19 times out of 20. In the case of smaller populations – such as journalists – the margin of error would be smaller.

Monday's survey is one of two on the issue. The second part, which will focus on how journalists feel about press freedom, will be released later in the week.