SALMAN RUSHDIE - QUEEN KNIGHTS SALMAN RUSHDIE

The Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie has received a knighthood from the Queen for services to literature.

Last year's announcement of the honour drew condemnation from Muslims around the world.

Sir Salman, 61, won the Booker prize for Midnight's Children in 1981 but was forced to go into hiding when The Satanic Verses was published in 1988.

The book sparked widespread protests and Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against the author.

The Ayatollah called the book blasphemous against Islam, sentencing the author to death.

"I really have no regrets about any of my work," Sir Salman told reporters after being asked about The Satanic Verses.

"This is, as I say, an honour not for any specific book but for a very long career in writing and I'm happy to see that recognized," he said.

Sir Salman's first novel, Grimus, was first published in 1975.

"It's been a long time - my first novel was published 33 years ago but I think the thing you hope to do as a writer is leave behind a shelf of interesting books and it's great just to have that work recognized.

"At this stage you know, it's certainly not a day to talk about controversy, it's a day for myself and my family to celebrate this," he told reporters.

The Iranian government withdrew the fatwa in 1998, enabling Sir Salman to gradually make a return to public life.