LONDON, England (CNN) -- The head of the Anglican Church has tried to damp down controversy surrounding comments he made suggesting that some aspects of Muslim Sharia law could become part of British law.

Rowan Williams faced calls to resign Saturday from senior members of his own church following an interview he gave to the British Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday in which he suggested the introduction of some parts of Sharia was "unavoidable."

The words of the Archbishop of Canterbury provoked widespread criticism from politicians, including the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who immediately ruled out the idea.

Sharia law is a legal and social code designed to help Muslims in their daily lives. It has proved controversial, however, because of its use in some Muslim states to justify suppression of women's rights and extremely brutal forms of punishment, including beheadings.

In his BBC interview, Williams strongly criticized the implementation of Sharia to suppress human rights. However, he said that Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/09/sharia.uk/index.html