MOSCOW, December 7 (RIA Novosti) - A senior Russian Orthodox Church official urged Russia's ruling authorities, society and traditionalist Muslim organizations Wednesday to pay serious attention to the radical activities of certain Islamic and quasi-Islamic scholars.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin of the Moscow Patriarchate External Relations Department was commenting on demands of some representatives of Russia's Islamic community that Russian Orthodox symbols be removed from the national coat of arms.

"I am afraid that this is being done to sow hatred between believers since the calls to de-Christianize Russia's history, its symbols, its present and future have invariably provoked a backlash from the Orthodox," he said. "Neither Muslims nor Russian Orthodox believers are interested in fomenting a conflict."

He said those who are looking to spark religious tensions "get funds from abroad to sow seeds of hatred in Russia, radicalize the Islamic umma [community] and embarrass its traditional leadership, and shoot to prominence atop this wave of radicalism".