Bold statements about Islam and Muslim immigrants may push fundamentalists over the edge, the Dutch counter terrorism NCTB chief Tjibbe Joustra told the daily Algemeen Dagblad in an interview published Monday.

The NCTB chief Joustra said he has "mixed feelings" about bold remarks on Islam.

"Radical remarks may push people who are already on the verge of using violence, over the edge," he said according to the report in reference to statements by opinion leaders like the liberal-right Freedom Party (PVV) leader Geert Wilders and Islam critic Ehsan Jami.

"There are almost one million Muslims in our country, but the vast majority disapproves of violence," Joustra said.

"The group of extremists who concern us, consists of merely a few hundred people. If you listen to the ongoing public debate, it seems most people do not see the complete context."

The NCTB chief added: "Everyone is free to express his opinion, but that does not mean we should say everything. You need to think before you speak."

Responding to the interview, Freedom Party PVV-leader Geert Wilders said: "It is unfit for a civil servant to say I push extremists over the edge with my statements."

Wilders added he was democratically elected in parliament.

It is the second time that the NCTB has publicly expressed dismay at Wilders' statements. Last spring, an NCTB-employee also requested he tone down his words.

Last week, an opinion poll by polling agency Maurice de Hond found six out of 10 Dutch nationals feel Wilders was unnecessarily contributing to the widening gap between Dutch rightists and leftists. dpa rl pb