Muslim Leaders Agree To Fight Terror

Mecca - Muslim leaders from across the globe united in a call to combat terrorism and defend the image of Islam at a summit in the holy city of Mecca.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam attended the summit. Accompanying His Majesty was HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"All agree on combating terrorism and extremism and stressing the moderate (nature) of Islam," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said late Wednesday at the summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

He said Muslim leaders, meeting over two days in Mecca, stressed the need to stop blaming outside forces for problems in the Muslim world and focus on cooperation.

"(They agreed) on stressing the importance of cooperation between Muslims and putting an end to complaints of foreign conspiracies, and concentrating on common efforts to face development challenges."

The summit opened with a call from regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia for moderation and tolerance and a rejection of extremist violence.

The summit also served as an occasion for the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Iran to meet for the first time since a public row over Riyadh's accusations that Tehran was meddling in war-torn Iraq.

King Abdullah held talks Wednesday with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was making his first visit since taking office in August.

The dispute, which erupted after years of improving relations between Shiite Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, had led Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to put off a planned visit to Saudi Arabia in October.

In a draft of the Mecca Declaration, the Muslim leaders called for their countries to "combat forcefully the preachers of sedition and deviation, who aim to distort the peaceful principles of Islam". But they also expressed concern over the "widespread phenomenon of hatred and antagonism against Islam."

In an attempt to address sectarian divisions among Muslims, a committee drafting the 10-year plan suggested adding an article which bans accusations of apostasy being levelled at certain groups.

The proposed article, which aimed at reducing tension between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, stressed "the correct belief of Muslim groups... as long as they believe in God... and all principles of Islam."

Ultra-conservative Sunni groups, mainly Saudi Wahhabists, refer to Shiites as "rejectionists" and consider their beliefs non Islamic. The Islamic leaders are also expected to approve a name change for the body. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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